Cheltenham 2014

[manic-road]

Going for Faugheen in the first today.

[andyaston]

Going for Faugheen in the first today.

Well done!

[taylorsworkrate]

Good day today. Fingal bay and Spring Heeled saw me well in profit.

[olaftab]

So how many horses have died so far in this festival?

[taylorsworkrate]

So how many horses have died so far in this festival?

Does this thread really need to become this argument?

[olaftab]

No argument just trying to recognise all. Winners, losers and the dead.

[taylorsworkrate]

No argument just trying to recognise all. Winners, losers and the dead.

I think the people who feel the deaths the most are the jump racing fans. I was at Cheltenham on Tuesday, and saw several people in tears at the death of Our Conor.

It is part of the sport. People will argue, and understandably so that without jumps racing these deaths wouldn't take place. However, I firmly believe that without the national hunt that the majority of these horses would live far poorer lives and would probably die as a result of neglect or malnourishment

[Dave Cooper please]

It is part of the sport. People will argue, and understandably so that without jumps racing these deaths wouldn't take place. However, I firmly believe that without the national hunt that the majority of these horses would live far poorer lives and would probably die as a result of neglect or malnourishment

How?

Without horse racing people wouldn't breed race horses.

[olaftab]

According to the Guardian 3 horses have died so far. I wonder how long football could survive if a couple of players died every weekend?

[taylorsworkrate]

It is part of the sport. People will argue, and understandably so that without jumps racing these deaths wouldn't take place. However, I firmly believe that without the national hunt that the majority of these horses would live far poorer lives and would probably die as a result of neglect or malnourishment

How?

Without horse racing people wouldn't breed race horses.

Both the RSPCA and World Horse Welfare highlighted over 6000 non thoroughbred horses at risk of neglect last winter.

Actually its a pretty pointless argument on here. No one on either side of the debate would yield on their position so I'm out.

[taylorsworkrate]

Gold Cup should be a good'un today. Having rewatched last years race, it was surprising to see just how well Silviniaco Conti was travelling before falling at the third last. His form in winning the King George is strong, and the good ground will be to his advantage.

However, Bobs Worth is a tremendous battler and has won every time he's raced at Cheltenham. Whether he would have won last year if SC had stay'd on his feet is difficult to say, and BW would probably want the ground to be on the softer side of good.

I think Siviniaco Conti makes for better value at 7/2 with The Giant Bolster a decent each way bet (2nd and 4th the last two years)

[taylorsworkrate]

The racing aside from the Gold Cup isn't really as strong today. That's the problem they created when they extended it to a 4 day festival.

[Brend'Watkins]

Had a great day out there yesterday, Got off to a great start with a the winner in the first.  Not a sniff after that.  Seen Matt Dawson of Spurs there and lots of people I know who I haven't seen for a while.  Great day, great fun, roll on next year's meeting.

[Archbishop Herbert Cockthrottle]

Claret Cloak seems to be apt today.

[andyaston]

That was the strangest Gold Cup I've ever watched.