The Gold Cup horse running in the Ultima and more key takeouts from the Cheltenham preview night circuit
The Cheltenham preview night was an endangered species 20 years ago, yet there was Shark Hanlon turning up on my X timeline Thursday night telling everyone in a Gorey hotel that Willie Mullins would have "three times as many winners as England".
Not even flirting takes place in person anymore, but somehow there remains a thirst for Cheltenham preview nights with a live audience.
Despite the festival itself being unrecognisable from the cutthroat and compelling three-day saga of 20 years ago, the preview nights have never changed. The same faces in the same places saying the same things. A few stools, a few pints and a few outrageous claims. A concoction of claptrap and curses. The more ridiculous the rant, the louder the cheer. Our open mic nights are going nowhere.
Read the full story
Read award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing, with exclusive news, interviews, columns, investigations, stable tours and subscriber-only emails.
Subscribe to unlock
- Racing Post digital newspaper (worth over £100 per month)
- Award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing
- Expert tips from the likes of Tom Segal and Paul Kealy
- Replays and results analysis from all UK and Irish racecourses
- Form study tools including the Pro Card and Horse Tracker
- Extensive archive of statistics covering horses, trainers, jockeys, owners, pedigree and sales data
Already a subscriber?Log in
- Shame on all of us for not making a bigger deal out of the Kennedy v Townend epic title race
- A 5-1 shot who should be odds-on - and you'll agree with me once you've read this
- From the Grand National that didn't impress me to the trainer who impressed me more than any other in my career
- Gordon Elliott is listening to his inner Einstein as A-listers are Aintree bound, so what on earth will Punchestown be like?
- British trainers deserve a kick up the arse for missing the Irish Grand National
- Shame on all of us for not making a bigger deal out of the Kennedy v Townend epic title race
- A 5-1 shot who should be odds-on - and you'll agree with me once you've read this
- From the Grand National that didn't impress me to the trainer who impressed me more than any other in my career
- Gordon Elliott is listening to his inner Einstein as A-listers are Aintree bound, so what on earth will Punchestown be like?
- British trainers deserve a kick up the arse for missing the Irish Grand National