It's certainly been
a thrilling year of racing action so far and with a continued focus on the
racing calendar and specifically noteworthy festivals and events
ahead, we can see that the next 6 months plus are packed with yet
more top class racing action, starting with late October's QIPCO
British Champions Day and stretching out to early April's Aintree Grand
National, where we'll be presenting our usual selection of Grand National tips.
Doncasters Vertem Futurity Trophy is
also a stand out October event. There are currently 76 entries for
this group one event held over the flat. 2019 Epsom Derby potential,
Too Darn Hot, is surely one to watch.
As we move to November, the festival
emphasis moves to jumps, rather than flat with Newbury's Winter
Carnival as well as Cheltenham's November meeting creating excitement
for racing fans. In December, we have The International at Cheltenham
racecourse, but a highlight for me are the Christmas festivals with
Sandown Park's Tingle Creek Christmas Festival as well as Kempton
Parks' Christmas Festival bringing some festive racing excitement our
way.
There are no major festivals or racing events in January. February sees the Welsh Grand National,
though for many the real action starts the following month with the
much anticipated Cheltenham Festival, a four day national hunt feast
of racing featuring highly anticipated races such as the Queen Mother
Champion Chase, Champion Hurdle, Stayers' Hurdle and of course the
Cheltenham Gold Cup. The Gold Cup is a race that eclipses most others in terms of its
profile and history and has elevated the likes of Best Mate and Kauto
Star into the echelones of racing royalty due to their consistent
successes in the race.
April brings us what's surely classed as 'the
one to watch' for even those not heavily into racing. I'm of course
refering to the Grand National, held at Aintree, Liverpool. This
three day meeting taking place just as the excitement of Cheltenham
has died down and really draws in the crowd on course, with numbers close
to 35,000 on days two and three. TV screens across the nation and the world will also to tuned in, as without a doubt the Grand
National has global appeal.
Each day of the Grand National festival has its highlights, with the
first day kicking off with four grade one races, the next
featuring the elegance and fun of Ladies Day and on Saturday we have
the Grand National itself. Steeped in tradition going all the way back to
1839, with 4 miles 2 furlongs and 30 tough fences to separate the
best from the rest, the Grand National offers the potential to cement
a place in racing history, alongside the likes of three time winner
Red Rum. If there's one race to win as a jockey, trainer or owner, it's definitely the Grand National.
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