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Kalendar Magazine 2017

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Kalendar Magazine 2017

The Magazine for the SouthWest region of The Jockey Club 17/18 Jump Season

A word in your ear

Jump racing returns for the 2017/18 season

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welcome

“ Welcome to this edition of Kalendar magazine for the 2017-2018 jump season which begins in the South West on September 26 at Warwick. Details of fixtures and what to look forward to across our four racecourses in the South West region of The Jockey Club can be found throughout the magazine, along with key stories from the past 12 months. Turning our attention trackside, the magazine features a behind- the-scenes interview with trainer Jessica Harrington who celebrated victory in the 2017 Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup with Sizing John, having never had a runner in the race before. Eddie Jordan talks about his love of racing and his passion for cars and we meet Paul Ferriter, the sculptor who unveiled his bronze sculpture of AP McCoy on day one of The Festival – it’s now situated in the plaza alongside Best Mate. The 2016-17 season provided us with memorable racing moments filled with joy and sadness, one of the highlights at The Festival being Un de Sceaux’s magnificent victory in the Ryanair Chase. But earlier in the season we witnessed the retirement of Sprinter Sacre, whose glittering career included the Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy and two Betway Queen Mother Champion Chases among his 18 wins, nine at Grade One level, winning more than £1.1 million in prize money. His victories included the rare hat-trick of success at all three of the major spring festivals – Cheltenham, Aintree and Punchestown in 2013. We also remember the great exploits of jumping star Many Clouds. There was superlative action each day of The Festival with the Irish dominating the leader board at the end of the week with Gordon Elliott just pipping Willie Mullins as The Festival’s

leading trainer and Ruby Walsh as leading jockey. More than 260,000 racegoers visited The Festival and witnessed the very best of jump racing, enjoying the uplift in customer experience following the completion of the Princess Royal Stand. Exeter, Warwick and Wincanton all had great seasons with one of the highlights being One for Arthur winning the Betfred Classic Chase at Warwick and then going on to win the Randox Health Grand National. Looking ahead, Wincanton marks its 150th anniversary with the launch of a limited edition book to celebrate 150 years of racing. Tom Parry, regional executive chef, talks food and his plans for this season’s menus and discusses a new Pan Asian influenced restaurant – a ground-breaking concept for a racecourse. There is also news on the Cheltenham and South West Syndicate, which has enjoyed a very successful first season with four wins from 17 runs. Ticket prices to Cheltenham, including The Festival, are outlined on pages 10-14. Please note that buying tickets before various dates enables racegoers to take advantage of reduced prices in the build-up to the meeting. If you are lucky enough to attend Cheltenham on multiple days, perfect for anybody with a love of racing, I urge you to consider becoming a member. We are all looking forward to another exciting season, with The Festival in March providing the highlight for jump racing fans the world over. I hope that the various articles in Kalendar whet your appetite for the return of jump racing to the South West and that we will provide plenty of great racing for you to enjoy in the months ahead.

Ian Renton Regional Director Cheltenham and the South West The Jockey Club

twitter.com/ CheltenhamRaces

facebook.com/ thehomeofjumpracing

instagram.com/ CheltenhamRaces

Governed by Royal Charter, The Jockey Club invests every penny it makes back into British racing for the long-term health of the sport

Kalendar 3

rosconn strategic land | advertising feature

rosconn wins in the land stakes R osconn Strategic Land strives to be the very best in every area of its business – just like Cheltenham Racecourse. The business, based in Stratford-upon- Avon, Warwickshire, was set-up by managing director and lifelong jumps racing fan Dan O’Donnell. b u s i n e s s m a n a n d j u m p s r a c i n g fa n d a n o ’ d o n n e l l e n j o y s b r i n g i n g f r i e n d s , fa m i ly a n d c l i e n t s t o e n j o y a d a y ’ s r a c i n g a n d t h e c h e lt e n h a m c l u b e x p e r i e n c e

Managing director and lifelong jumps racing fan Dan O’Donnell

the ‘dark horses’ we are following each season.” The Rosconn Group, which owns Rosconn Strategic Land, began its three- year Cheltenham Club full membership a year ago and Dan is enjoying bringing along friends, family, colleagues and clients to experience hospitality on the top floor of The Princess Royal Stand. Dan’s wife, Tracey, and daughters Casey Sophia and Amy Ella are racing enthusiasts and always enjoy the Cheltenham Club experience. D an said: “It is proving to be a great investment, which was made thanks to Mark Pearce of Cheltenham Racecourse. In terms of hospitality, I would defy anyone not to love a day’s entertainment at the Cheltenham Club. “There is something special about the place. The balcony which curves all the way round the stand means we have a spectacular view to watch the racing and the attention to detail of the staff and management – particularly Kayleigh – is exceptional because they understand their discerning clientele. “You don’t have to leave the area because there is a Tote and breakout zones to relax with your guests, so there is plenty of opportunity to entertain. For a business like ours, it is ideal for bringing like-minded folk to enjoy a day at the races. It is an incredible experience.” Just as Cheltenham Racecourse has grown over the past few years, Rosconn Strategic Land is planning its own expansion. Dan added: “We are currently working on a five-year growth plan whereby we are targeting a quadrupling of turnover and doubling of the team. Make no mistake the profit is more important than the turnover but we all need an action plan. “We have no ambition to sell the business – we are creating a legacy business and are constantly looking for bright, inspiring, motivated people to join our team.”

The privately-owned land promotion company obtains planning permission for residential-led developments and then helps the landowner find the right purchaser to ensure maximum return. The company’s seven-strong team works with each landowner every step of the way to deliver best value on each plot of land through its belief in utilising the best team both internally and externally on every transaction without exception. And it is this ethos and attention to detail which makes Rosconn Strategic Land ideal Cheltenham Club members, since that is our philosophy too. Dan’s love of jumps racing was inherited from his father Don whose groundworking business laid the foundations for the main viewing stand at Cheltenham. He said: “We simplify the process for the landowner and ensure they net the largest financial gain possible. “We have an exceptional team and our management structure, including operations director Nick Carr, has been together a long time which means the commercial chemistry works. “We like being underestimated and then delivering the goods – like a third favourite in the market at 8-1 in a championship race at The Festival that wins on the bridle while the short price favourites go out like a flame when popped the question turning for home. “A bit of a JP McManus horse that shocks the market – you’ve just got to admire it

“ I would defy anyone not to love a day’s entertainment at the Cheltenham Club

and you just can’t teach it. Currently, we have circa 3,000 plots in the planning system. “We invest the money and intellectual capacity to deliver planning permission on the land. At that juncture, we go out to the open market to ensure best value. “The difference between selling land the promotion route in contrast to the traditional option agreement is the method in which the price is determined. “All of a sudden, the price isn’t being determined by one party, it is being determined by the open marketing process that Rosconn Strategic Land and

the landowners’ advisers embark on. We share in the success because our goals are aligned with the landowner so we work as a team. At no point is it ‘them and us’. “A good indicator of this is when we dealt with two sisters – Shirley and Sandra – which was the first large land promotion we did. “They didn’t fully understand what it was worth or understand the process in detail and wanted someone to help them navigate the journey and to fund it for them. “Everyone says ‘you can trust me’ but you can trust Rosconn Strategic Land.

We invested considerable money and their land achieved planning permission for 150 houses and was sold to a PLC housebuilder. “They had always loved horse racing and said they were going to buy a horse which they did from Gigginstown Stud at auction called Savello which is now trained by Dan Skelton. “The horse has won at Kelso and been placed three times at Cheltenham including at the 2016 Festival. Shirley and Sandra love being involved in the sport, we are still great friends and talk of

jump online For more information, visit rosconngroup.com

Kalendar 5

4 Kalendar

The Jockey Club Regional Hospitality Sales Tel: 01242 537653 [email protected] Regional Head of Sales – South West Lee Moulson [email protected]

Regional Sponsorship Manager Carey Buckler [email protected]

Regional Communications Manager Sarah Jane Muirie [email protected]

Cheltenham – Racecourse of the Year 2016-2017

The Festival TM is a registered trademark of Jockey Club Racecourses Ltd

contents

Regional Racecourses

44 Tweed indeed

PLANNING YOUR VISIT 8 Diary dates Key fixtures at Cheltenham, Exeter, Warwick and Wincanton

The racing pack’s go-to fashion favourite

55 The Jockey Club

49 St Patrick’s Day

Editor Gavin Thompson

How The Jockey Club is helping charities to raise funds

Feeling lucky with the Irish

CHELTENHAM 22 Dine in style

25 November Cracker

50 Gold Cup fever

Head of Content Sophie Flowers

Three days of non-stop thrills at the November Meeting

10 Tickets and packages

60 Join the syndicate

Highlight of The Festival

Everything you need to know about buying tickets for the Cheltenham season

Enjoy the best local produce at Cheltenham Racecourse

Enjoy all the fun of owning a racehorse by joining a syndicate

52 April stars line up

30 The one and only

Features Corrie Bond-French

Charity racers and celebrity horses wow the crowds

How The New One stole the show at The International

28 Let’s go shopping

70 Conference facilities

The Shopping Village is the place to spend your winnings

The region’s racecourses are perfect for your events, conferences, parties and more

65 Spend the night

Design Joyce Matthews

54 Hunter Chase

33 Crystal Cup

Check out our Little Diamonds – the best places to stay in the Cotswolds

End the season with a party to remember 56 Jessica’s golden year Gold Cup winning trainer Jessica Harrington at home in County Kildare 66 For the love of Cheltenham What makes racegoers return again and again? 73 The real McCoy Meet sculptor 73

Find out more about this thrilling multi-nation challenge

88 Meet the team

We talk to the man in the know – Simon Claisse, clerk of the course

79 Exeter

Kalendar is published by Local World Gloucestershire, a subsidiary company of Trinity Mirror PLC, which is a member of the Independent Press Standards Organisation. We adhere to the Editors’ Code of Practice as enforced by IPSO, which is contactable for advice at IPSO, Gate House, 1 Farringdon Street, London EC4M 7LG. Website ipso.co.uk, telephone 0300 123 2220, email [email protected] If you have a complaint concerning a potential breach of the Code of Practice, we will deal with your complaint directly or IPSO can refer your complaint to us. Please go to trinitymirror.com/howtocomplain where you can view our Complaints Policy and Procedure. A ‘How to Complain’ pack is available by writing to the Legal and Compliance Department, Trinity Mirror PLC, One Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London E14 5AP.

36 Join the party

All the new season action at this spectacular hilltop course

85 Junior Jumpers

98 Meet the member

Family fun at Cheltenham’s New Year’s Day meeting

Free membership club for young racegoers in the region

Bill Foylan talks about being a member of Cheltenham Racecourse

81 Warwick

38 Top Trials action Bumper card at Festival Trials Day 41 The Festival starts here

91 Access for all

Why Warwick is one of the best small jumps tracks in the country

Everyone can enjoy a great day at Cheltenham – find out about all the services to help you

FEATURES 15 Eddie Jordan

83 Wincanton

A host of events to celebrate 150 years of racing at this special Somerset track

92 Traffic

The Formula 1 legend and Top Gear star on why Cheltenham gets his pulse racing

Day-by-day guide to the big event, starting with Festival Tuesday

Plan your route and how to get to Cheltenham

86 Festive racing

94 Be our guest

20 Putting on a show

43 Ladies’ Day

Round off the festive season with a visit to racecourses in the region

Paul Ferriter who captured Sir AP McCoy in bronze

How hospitality teams make your visit a memorable one

All the action from Festival Wednesday

Battling to be the best as the season starts with The Showcase

Kalendar 7

6 Kalendar

planning your visit | season dates

jump online book tickets at cheltenham.co.uk or call 0344 579 3003

book hospitality And restaurants by calling 01242 537653

Somersby before the Vix Technology Haldon Gold Cup Chase (Grade 2 Limited Handicap)

Governed by Royal Charter, The Jockey Club invests every penny it makes back into British racing for the long-term health of the sport

racecourse key exeter cheltenham warwick wincanton EX CH WA WI

Throwback Thursday Racing January 25 Festival Trials Day January 27

Spring Raceday March 20 The Executive Hire Show

september

december

The Grand Season Opener September 26

New Year’s Day January 1 New Year’s Day Racing January 1 Newcomers Day January 6 Betfred Classic Chase Day January 13 Somerset National Day January 18 January Jumps January 24 Festive Raceday December 7 Festive Fun at the Races December 8 Christmas at the Races December 14 The International December 15-16 Christmas Cheer Raceday December 21 Boxing Day December 26 New Year’s Eve Party at the Races December 31

Raceday March 28 Midweek Jumps March 28

february

october

Jockey Jamie Moore riding The Mumper during Racing UK Now On Talktalk TV Handicap Chase

april

Midweek Jumps February 1

The Autumn Meeting October 5 Season’s Opener October 12 Season Opener October 20 Best Mate Beginners’

may Celebration of the Horse April 3 St Mary’s Lands Cup Day April 5 Family Day April 8 April Afternoon Racing April 17 The April Meeting April 18-19 Family Race Day April 22 Spring Splendour April 24 Crudwell Cup Day April 26 Hunter Chase Evening May 4 Kids’ Carnival Day May 7 Ladies’ Night May 8 Cheese and Cider Celebration May 10 Ladies’ Night May 12 Ladies’ Day May 15 Proudly Warwick May 23 Celebration Raceday Warwick May 30

march First March Raceday and Cheltenham Preview March 6 Midweek Jumps March 8 Air Ambulance Countryside Day March 11 Champion Day – The Festival March 13 Ladies’ Day – The Festival March 14 St Patrick’s Thursday – The Festival March 15 Gold Cup Day – The Festival March 16 Gentleman’s Raceday featuring the Kingmaker Chase February 10 Super Sunday February 11 Kingwell Hurdle Day February 17 Budbrooke Chase Family Fun Day February 23 Midweek Jumps February 28 Devon National Raceday February 23

What’s in store this season

Chase Day October 24

The Showcase October 27-28 150 Year Celebration Day October 29

january 2018

november

Haldon Gold Cup November 7

Business Networking Raceday November 10 Badger Chase Day November 11

Midweek Racing November 15

The November Meeting November 17-19

Winter Warmer at Warwic k November 22 Midweek Jumps November 23

Price increase dates for your diary: Sunday, November 19, 2017, midnight Saturday, January 27, 2018, midnight Sunday, March 11, 2018, midnight For further information or to

Devon Day November 26

book tickets visit cheltenham.co.uk

Racing at Wincanton

Kalendar 9

Buying tickets for Cheltenham Racecourse is easy: you can buy in advance either online or via the call centre and save money * . Tickets can be purchased on the day if they are available but at a slightly increased rate. TICKETS & RACEDAY PACKAGES 2017-18 SEASON AT CHELTENHAM

THE SHOWCASE - FRIDAY 27th, SATURDAY 28th OCTOBER

IN ADVANCE

ON THE DAY

CLUB/TATTERSALLS

£25

£30

£44

In advance only

GOLD PACKAGE – INCL. CLUB TICKET

We encourage our customers to use the Print at Home option where possible when purchasing your tickets in advance, to save on the cost of postage. Please note due to security that we are unable to offer the Print at Home option when purchasing

ticket options that include a swing badge or voucher element. Please note that booking fees apply to all transactions.

GROUPS – CLUB/TATTERSALLS 10+

£22

In advance only

BEST MATE

£10

£15

BEST MATE PACKAGE

£19

In advance only

CHELTENHAM ENCLOSURES For The November Meeting Saturday and over the four days of The Festival™, Cheltenham operates three separate enclosures – Club, Tattersalls and Best Mate. Detailed below are the facilities that are available in the three dierent enclosures.

GROUPS – BEST MATE 10+

£8

In advance only

THE NOVEMBER MEETING - FRIDAY 17th & SUNDAY 19th NOVEMBER

IN ADVANCE

ON THE DAY

CLUB

TATTERSALLS

BEST MATE

CLUB/TATTERSALLS

£25

£30

PRINT AT HOME (EXCLUDING PACKAGES) VIEWS OPPOSITE THE FINISHING LINE COVERED GRANDSTAND ACCESS TO FOOD OUTLETS ACCESS TO BARS BETTING FACILITIES ACCESS TO DISABLED FACILITIES WIFI RACEPASS 18-24* WWW.RACEPASS18TO24.CO.UK (*THE FESTIVAL™ LADIES DAY ONLY) SAVER PACKAGES AVAILABLE SIDE VIEW OF THE FINAL FURLONG SIDE VIEW OF THE FINAL FENCE/FURLONG COVERED GRANDSTAND SEATING VIEWOF THE PRE PARADE PADDOCK, PADDOCK ANDWINNER’S ENCLOSURE ACCESS TO THE SHOPPING VILLAGE ACCESS TO GUINNESS VILLAGE (FESTIVAL ONLY) ACCESS TO THEMES AND CHILDRENS’ ENTERTAINMENT ACCESS TO FINAL FLIGHT BAR - ADDITIONAL TICKET PURCHASE REQUIRED ACCESS TO RESTAURANTS ACCESS TO THE CENTRE OF THE RACECOURSE HEAD ON VIEWS OF THE RACECOURSE

£44

In advance only

GOLD PACKAGE – INCL. CLUB TICKET

GROUPS – CLUB/TATTERSALLS 10+

£22

In advance only

BEST MATE

£10

£15

BEST MATE PACKAGE

£19

In advance only

GROUPS – BEST MATE 10+

£9

In advance only

THE NOVEMBER MEETING - SATURDAY 18th NOVEMBER

SALES 28th OCTOBER TO 17th NOVEMBER (MIDNIGHT)

SALES TO 27th OCTOBER (MIDNIGHT)

ON THE DAY

CLUB

£35

£40

£45

TATTERSALLS

£30

£35

£49

In advance only

GOLD PACKAGE - INCL. TATTERSALLS TICKET

GROUPS – TATTERSALLS 10+

£26

In advance only

BEST MATE

£14

£20

BEST MATE PACKAGE

£24

In advance only

GROUPS – BEST MATE 10+

£12

In advance only

THE NOVEMBER MEETING FINAL FLIGHT (* PACKAGE INCLUDES CLUB TICKET)

COUNTRYSIDE DAY FRIDAY 17th NOVEMBER

BETVICTOR GOLD CUP DAY SATURDAY 18th NOVEMBER

CAR PARKING: The November Meeting 17th, 18th November £4 in advance £5 on the day The Festival ™ 13th - 17th March £12 in advance £20 on the day Select Cheltenham Spa and catch the buses from the station direct to the course – charges apply For more information visit www.cheltenham.co.uk

Cheltenham town centre to the course about 30mins

To the course – cycle racks available

PACKAGE* ONLINE IN ADVANCE BEFORE 27th OCTOBER (MIDNIGHT)

£35

£50

DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE:

PACKAGE* 28th OCTOBER – 17th NOVEMBER (MIDNIGHT)

Why not travel by coach? Book your ticket and travel at www.nationalexpress.co.uk

£35

£55

FINAL FLIGHT ONLY

£15

£20

BOOK ONLINE NOW - WWW.CHELTENHAM.CO.UK BOOKING HOTLINE: 0344 579 3003

Booking fee applies to all transactions

THE INTERNATIONAL - FRIDAY 15th DECEMBER

For The Festival™ we advise you to book in advance. The cheapest prices are available until midnight on Sunday 19th November and details of further dates when ticket prices increase can be found below. THE FESTIVAL ™ - CHAMPION DAY: TUESDAY 13th, LADIES DAY: WEDNESDAY 14th, ST PATRICK’S THURSDAY: 15th MARCH

IN ADVANCE

ON THE DAY

CLUB/TATTERSALLS

£25

£30

£44

In advance only

GOLD PACKAGE – INCL. CLUB TICKET

GROUPS – CLUB/TATTERSALLS 10+

£22

In advance only

BEST MATE

£10

£15

BEST MATE PACKAGE

£19

In advance only

SALES 28th JANUARY TO 11th MARCH (MIDNIGHT)

SALES 20th NOVEMBER TO 27th JANUARY (MIDNIGHT)

SALES TO 19th NOVEMBER (MIDNIGHT)

FESTIVAL WEEK SALES IF AVAILABLE

GROUPS – BEST MATE 10+

£9

In advance only

THE INTERNATIONAL - SATURDAY 16th DECEMBER

CLUB

£75

£80

£85

£90

TATTERSALLS

£45

£50

£55

£60

IN ADVANCE

ON THE DAY

GOLD PACKAGE INCL. TATTERSALLS TICKET

£65

£70

Not available

CLUB/TATTERSALLS

£30

£35

£49

In advance only

GOLD PACKAGE – INCL. CLUB TICKET

TATTERSALLS GROUP 15+

£40

£45

£50

Not available

GROUPS – CLUB/TATTERSALLS 10+

£25

In advance only

BEST MATE

£30

£35

£40

£45

BEST MATE

£12

£16

BEST MATE GROUP 15+

£25

£30

£40

Not available

BEST MATE PACKAGE

£23

In advance only

GROUPS – BEST MATE 10+

£10

In advance only

THE FESTIVAL ™ - GOLD CUP DAY: FRIDAY 16th MARCH

NEW YEAR’S DAY - MONDAY 1st JANUARY

SALES 28th JANUARY TO 11th MARCH (MIDNIGHT)

SALES 20th NOVEMBER TO 27th JANUARY (MIDNIGHT)

SALES TO 19th NOVEMBER (MIDNIGHT)

FESTIVAL WEEK SALES IF AVAILABLE

SALES TO 18th NOVEMBER (MIDNIGHT)

SALES 19th NOVEMBER TO 31st DECEMBER (MIDNIGHT)

ON THE DAY

CLUB

£95

£100

£110

SOLD OUT

CLUB/TATTERSALLS

£30

£35

£40

TATTERSALLS

£65

£70

£75

£80

£49

In advance only

GOLD PACKAGE – INCL. CLUB TICKET

GOLD PACKAGE INCL. TATTERSALLS TICKET

£85

£90

Not available

GROUPS – CLUB/TATTERSALLS 10+

£25

In advance only

BEST MATE

£12

£15

TATTERSALLS GROUP 15+

£55

£65

£70

Not available

BEST MATE PACKAGE

£23

In advance only

BEST MATE

£50

£55

£60

£65

GROUPS – BEST MATE 10+

£10

In advance only

BEST MATE GROUP 15+

FESTIVAL TRIALS DAY - SATURDAY 27th JANUARY

£40

£50

£55

Not available

THE FESTIVAL ™ FINAL FLIGHT (* PACKAGE INCLUDES CLUB TICKET)

SALES TO 1st JANUARY (MIDNIGHT)

SALES 2nd JANUARY TO 26th JANUARY (MIDNIGHT)

ON THE DAY

CHAMPION DAY

LADIES DAY

ST PATRICK’S THURSDAY GOLD CUP DAY

CLUB/TATTERSALLS

£30

£35

£40

PACKAGE* 5th JULY 2017 - 19th NOVEMBER 2017 PACKAGE* 19th NOVEMBER 2017 - 27th JANUARY 2018 FINAL FLIGHT ONLY 19th NOVEMBER 2017 - 11th MARCH 2018

£49

In advance only

GOLD PACKAGE – INCL. CLUB TICKET

£100

£125

GROUPS – CLUB/TATTERSALLS 10+

£26

In advance only

BEST MATE

£12

£15

£105

£130

BEST MATE PACKAGE

£23

In advance only

GROUPS – BEST MATE 10+

£10

In advance only

£45

£55

2017/2018 TICKET DELIVERY METHODS: The last day for ticket sales with delivery method selected as posting to UK postal address is 6th March. The last day for ticket sales with delivery method selected as Royal Mail signed for posting to UK postal address is 8th March.

The first day for ticket sales with delivery method selected as collection is 6th March. Club tickets and packages purchased after 9th March will be collection on the day of racing only. Best Mate & Tattersalls tickets are available to print at home until midnight before racing (subject to availability).

BOOK ONLINE NOW - WWW.CHELTENHAM.CO.UK BOOKING HOTLINE: 0344 579 3003

Booking fee applies to all transactions

APRIL MEETING AND HUNTER CHASE EVENING - 18th - 19th APRIL & 4th MAY

Racing fan and Formula 1 pundit Eddie Jordan

IN ADVANCE

ON THE DAY

CLUB/TATTERSALLS

£15

£20

£34

In advance only

GOLD PACKAGE - INCL. CLUB TICKET

GROUPS – CLUB/TATTERSALLS 10+

£13

In advance only

BEST MATE

£10

£15

BEST MATE PACKAGE

£19

In advance only

GROUPS – BEST MATE 10+

£8

In advance only

Booking fee applies to all transactions Every eort is made to ensure prices are correct at time of going to print. Occasionally changes may occur after printing so please check our website www.cheltenham.co.uk before purchasing.

eddie’s in top gear for The Festival

*Exclusions apply and group bookings start from 15+ for The Festival™ at Cheltenham meeting. PLANNING MORE THAN ONE EVENT? The Jockey Club Groups Team will provide one point of contact for all of your event planning, making it easy for you to join us at all of our Jockey Club Racecourses. START PLANNING YOUR GROUP EVENT TODAY contact us on 03447 489201 or email [email protected]

MAKE YOUR DAY EXTRA SPECIAL BOOK HOSPITALITY AND RESTAURANTS CALL 01242 537 653

Kalendar 15

14 Kalendar

CHELTENHAM.CO.UK

EXETER-RACECOURSE.CO.UK WARWICKRACECOURSE.CO.UK WINCANTONRACECOURSE.CO.UK

interview | eddie jordan

Eddie with his wife Marie

s w i t c h o n t o wa t c h f o r m u l a 1 a n d e d d i e j o r d a n i s r i g h t u p t h e r e s t i l l b l a z i n g a t r a i l , n o t t o m e n t i o n h i s n e e d f o r s p e e d i n t o p g e a r . b u t j u m p r a c i n g , a n d t h e t h u n d e r i n g h o o v e s o f c h e lt e n h a m i n pa r t i c u l a r , g e t h i s p u l s e r a c i n g j u s t a s m u c h , a s C o r r i e b o n d - f r e n c h f o u n d o u t

Cheltenham Festival just manages to get that little touch extra ahead of them all,” he enthuses. “It’s because of the numbers of the people, the enthusiasm of the people, the horses that are here, the champions…But jumping is much more of an Irish thing than the flat, even though of course the flat is important, and hugely followed. I think it’s the excitement of seeing horse and man and the whole thing of taking the jumps.” But with his TV pundit career keeping him in the Formula 1 milieu, Eddie is showing no signs of slowing down. “It’s the start of the Grand Prix season and I’m lucky to be here today. We did all the shooting for the early programme yesterday, and I’m shooting for Top Gear in the next couple of days, so as you can imagine I’m happily able to say that I am very busy.”

e is the maverick sportsman and entrepreneur who’s kissed the Blarney Stone aplenty and weathered more storms than Dun Laoghaire harbour. But while fast cars and a roller coaster ride F1 career

trajectory have defined him, Dubliner Eddie Jordan reckons his love of jump racing, and Cheltenham in particular, owes more to a hefty glint of Emerald Isle DNA than to a need for speed. “I’ve got three great passions,” he tells me, eyes twinkling as we sit in a Chez Roux box on Ladies’ Day, snatching time as the turf trembles between the Neptune Novices Hurdle and the 2.10pm RSA Chase. “Cycling is one and then there’s motor racing of course, but being here at

That, to be fair, seems to have always been the case. Only a singular and irrepressible energy could have propelled a young Dublin bank clerk to try his hand at kart racing, to then go on to win the Irish championship, then progress to racing Fords. Sharp as a tack, with a gift for blarney, banter and mental arithmetic, Eddie Jordan never dreamed small. His first Formula Ford sponsorship deal with a carpet shop saw him flogging the remnants he was given in lieu of cash at Dublin’s Dandelion Green Saturday market. Deals like this were all part of the learning curve that arced from Formula Ford to

Cheltenham, for me is like being at home in Ireland. I’m here with Lee McKenzie, my co-presenter, and she just said to me ‘my God Eddie, more people want pictures of you here than they do at the Grand Prix!’” I confess I didn’t have him down as a Lycra-clad two-wheel enthusiast, but it seems that the thundering hooves of Prestbury Park are as natural a fit as thrumming maximum thrust engines. “It’s because I’ve always had horses. I’ve always been with trainer Mouse Morris

Eddie helps to present the Ladies’ Day prize

Formula 3 and Formula 2. Realising that his talents in wheeler dealing and spotting glimmers of opportunity would be best used in management rather than in the driving seat, Eddie Jordan Racing then burst on to the Formula 1 circuit as Jordan Formula One in 1991 – the new, independent kid on the block. Gracing the grids and podiums for 14 seasons, an embattled Eddie took on the Goliaths of the sport in typical buccaneering spirit. He battled bankruptcy, won races, battled bankruptcy and won more races. Eddie gave Michael Schumacher his F1 break, and drivers including Nigel Mansell, Damon Hill, Jean Alesi, Rubens Barrichello, Giancarlo Fisichella, Heinz-Harald Frentzen, Johnny

and because I love jump racing, much more so than the flat racing. As a result Cheltenham is like, well, it’s the first thing you put in the diary, definitely. But then it’s not difficult because it’s always around St Patrick’s Day,” he laughs. “The problem used to be that it was always at the start of the Grand Prix season, but wisely, everyone decided to make it a week later and Australia’s not until next week, so it means I can be here.” Eddie clearly relishes every aspect of the whole Festival spirit. “Punchestown is very special and Royal Ascot in terms of the flat is always nice in the summer, but I have to say that the

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diary dates The Festival, March 13-16, 2018

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Eddie with his wife Marie

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interview | eddie jordan

Herbert, Eddie Irvine and Ralf Schumacher all drove for the Jordan team. After more than a decade blazing a trail and teetering on the brink amid all the F1 cut and thrust, Eddie sold his team to Midland before bowing out of the race. But his unique team-owner’s perspective and that same irreverent, shoots-from- the-hip spirit were a winning combination in front of the camera, and the BBC snapped him up as their analyst. He now heads Channel 4’s F1 coverage and presents BBC’s Top Gear alongside Matt Le Blanc, the Friends actor – Eddie, not being one for sitting down much or watching TV, had never seen the popular series. Ever an instinctive entrepreneur, Eddie has had fingers in plenty of other pies, including an investment firm and energy drink, vodka and property companies. He’s also a patron of leukaemia charity CLIC. With four grown-up children, he and his wife Marie, herself a former Irish basketball team player (and here on Ladies’ Day looking fabulous), divide their time between houses in the UK, Monaco and Cape Town, as well as spending time on their yacht. Somehow, with a relentless schedule, Eddie still manages to find the time for drumming with his band Eddie and the Robbers. Small wonder he never had the time to loll about on the sofa binge-watching Friends, really. But despite his international standing, Eddie has a soft spot a furlong wide for home-grown talent, sharing enthusiasm – and sometime ownership – with fellow countryman, trainer Mouse Morris. “I’ve had a couple of runners here, I’ve always been devoted to Mouse Morris. Mouse is from a very small yard and stable in the village of Fethard in County Tipperary which is world-renowned for Coolmore et cetera (the largest thoroughbred stud in the world), but Mouse has just 60 or 70 horses. “The friendship is different. If I go to see Mouse or go to the yard I stay the night – we go and have a drink and talk about things and then he stays with us. We’ve become amazingly good friends and I think that it’s so important – in life generally but in sport in particular – that you have the ability to be able to mix these relationships.” E ddie holds racehorse owner and tycoon JP McManus in equally high regard. “Yesterday I woke up and the first thing I said was ‘did JP win the race?’ and they said yes, and so sometime today I’ll make it to his box because I want to congratulate him, because he’s a good mate. But you know, it just seems to go on and on and on, what JP is able to do, with Nicky Henderson and previously with Charlie Swan and then other trainers. “What I like about him is that JP has never changed. He’s probably the most lovable man you could ever find and the fact that he has all these horses and is so successful, well… in life there is such a thing as begrudgery but there is not a single person I know that could ever begrudge JP the massive success he has.” But all that glitters in the Emerald Isle is not just Gold Cups and Eddie is rightly proud of his country’s sporting successes and camaraderie. “I think our own national sports, Gaelic football and hurling both help keep it strong. I love what the rugby team does. And there’s the soccer, what Roy Keane and Martin O’Neill are doing is exemplary. “I think for such a small country we always seem to punch above our weight and that’s what gives me such pleasure, because yes, we’re small but we embrace each other’s sports. If Paul McGinley wins the Ryder Cup for Europe we feed off that, if Jordan was to win the Grand Prix we’d feed off that, if the rugby wins the Grand Slam, we feed off that. It’s hugely exciting.” Eddie seems to exemplify the generous sportsman’s spirit that underpins The Festival.The next race announcement heralds the end of our chat but he takes the time to tell me I’ve been a sweetheart – that Blarney Stone is still working its magic – then he’s off. But it’s clear that, perhaps a shade more than most of us, Eddie Jordan truly understands what racing excitement is all about.

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feature | the showcase

El Bandit ridden by Sean Bowen

The Showcase Food and Drink zone

show . . . Putting on a

c h e lt e n h a m ’ s s e a s o n s ta r t s w i t h a r o a r a s t h e s h owc a s e p u t s t o p h o r s e s a n d j o c k e y s t h r o u g h t h e i r pa c e s . e x p e c t t o s e e t h e s ta r s o f t h e f u t u r e

C heltenham’s season begins with a bang. As the leading horses, jockeys and trainers return to the spiritual home of jump racing,The Showcase provides the perfect opportunity to come racing with friends, family and colleagues. And observant spectators will have noticed something slightly different when a new season began at Cheltenham last year as the ITV Racing team brought their cameras to the racecourse for the first time, ahead of unveiling their new programme on New Year’s Day. The October meeting marks the beginning of the year for many of the proper horses, ready to get going in a season which will hopefully bring them back to The Festival in March. Last year, the action had a predictable start with champion trainer

years but since then it’s been a bit barren. Both horses jumped great, both got great rides and it’s just a shame one had to beat the other.” Thomas Campbell was one of the best horses on display as he took the Harrison James & Hardie Maiden Hurdle but as trainer Nicky Henderson explained of the Kelvin Hughes family’s home-bred, there was more to him than met the eye. “He is a real toy boy and is always up to tricks,” Henderson said. “If there was a naughty boy in the class like Dennis The Menace it would be him. He would be the one causing all the trouble.” Saturday’s card saw the reappearance of a horse who was to become one of the season’s stand-out performers. Fox Norton, given a thrashing by Douvan in the Arkle the previous March, looked vastly improved as he took the Randox Health Handicap Chase by

Paul Nicholls getting off the mark again in the very first race of the afternoon as El Bandit bravely made it five wins on the bounce in the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle. “He wasn’t at his best, but he got away with it,” said Nicholls, who doubled his tally on the day straight away as Marracudja held off the fast- finishing Presenting Arms in the Squareintheair. com Novices’ Chase. The trainer later reached his fastest half-century for a campaign as Harry Cobden continued his partnership with Cliffs of Dover in the Racing UK Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle. While the Irish come over en-masse at The

a dazzling 11 lengths. Jockey Noel Fehily found himself in front and going effortlessly with half a mile left to run and, as trainer Neil Mulholland predicted afterwards, this would be the last time the gelding would be running in handicaps. “That was really impressive,” said Fehily. “I gave him a breather coming down the hill to help him get up it and I thought the challengers would come back up behind me but I never saw any.” The display caught the eye of powerful owners Alan and Ann Potts, and Fox Norton was to move on to the Colin Tizzard yard and eventually taste grade one glory in the Melling Chase at Aintree. At least Mulholland would hold on to Shantou Village, a horse with an impressive Cheltenham record, who was swiftly able to complete a double

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diary dates The Showcase, October 27-28

“ The Showcase marks the beginning of the year for many of the proper horses

Festival, a highlight of this meeting is that it has become another target for top trainers across the water. Henry de Bromhead, who was to enjoy a considerably more important moment in his career come March, has already had some wonderful Cheltenham days with his Arkle and Queen Mother Champion Chase hero Sizing Europe. However, before a one-two in the Ryman Stationery Cheltenham Business Club Novices’ Chase, the Waterford trainer had been on a dry spell at the course for five years. Phillip Enright recovered from losing his foot in a stirrup at the first fence to help Heron Heights lead home David Mullins and Full Cry, while Gordon Elliott’s Tiger Roll completed an Irish clean sweep. “It’s nice to get back on the winners’ board here, it’s been a while,” De Bromhead smiled. “We had a feast of winners in a couple of

for the stable in the Royal Gloucestershire Hussars Novices’ Chase. Local trainer Charlie Longsdon was delighted with the efforts of champion jockey Richard Johnson, who earned his riding fee to galvanise Coologue back past Keltus in a gripping finish to the £50,000 Randox Handicap Chase. Coologue was benefitting from a breathing operation, having shown an inclination to hand across the track when younger. Cotswold favourite Nigel Twiston-Davies ended up lifting the Richard Allen, Waters &The Brittons Novices’ Hurdle with Wholestone, whom he described as “a proper horse”. Wholestone was to live up to Twiston-Davies’ expectations and this was a fine start as the easy Warwick winner defeated Thistlecrack’s half-brother West Approach in a tight finish.

Ed Chamberlin and ITV Racing comes to Cheltenham

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feature | food

cheltenham | food

Executive chef Tom Parry

a l u n c h t o r e m e m b e r i s a v i ta l pa r t o f t h e r a c i n g e x p e r i e n c e a n d t h e j o c k e y c l u b ’ s r e g i o n a l e x e c u t i v e c h e f t o m pa r r y a n d h i s t e a m a r e d e t e r m i n e d t o s e n d y o u h o m e h a p p y, t h a n k s t o a wa r d - w i n n i n g d i s h e s u s i n g l o c a l s e a s o n a l p r o d u c e J dine with us local and seasonal, come

ust over 30 years ago a nervous yet excited teenager embarked on what has become a life-long culinary adventure. It may be three decades since Tom Parry worked as an apprentice chef at London’s prestigious Savoy Hotel, but his passion for excellence has remained. Today as the Jockey Club’s regional executive chef, based at Cheltenham Racecourse, Tom and his team dish up outstanding award-winning food. It means those expecting first-class racing on the famous Prestbury soil can also expect the same standards served on a plate. And it’s no easy feat for Tom and his chefs during The Festival. Each day his catering team of 3,500 – which includes 350 chefs, 350 managers and 750 students from more than 20 colleges – will serve 42,000 hospitality meals and 8,000 gallons of tea and coffee in the racecourse’s 12 restaurants. These include Champions Walk Restaurant for a more modern style of dining, Chez Roux at Cheltenham, where you can dine with a hero of the culinary world, the Gold Cup Restaurant, the Horseshoe Pavilion Restaurant, the Paddock View Restaurant, The Cheltenham Club and the Panoramic Restaurant, part of the Tattersalls Grandstand, situated on the fifth floor with superb views across the racecourse. Fresh for Cheltenham Festival 2018, Tom aims to set up a new restaurant with a Pan Asian influence – a ground-breaking concept for racecourses.

The catering logistics are mind-boggling – there are 34 temporary kitchens, 75 mobile catering units and five furlongs of temporary bar counters. Yet Tom and his team remain determined and faithful to the cause which is to serve the best local food, create delicious menus and present the dishes so that each plate looks and tastes like a work of art. “We eat with our eyes so it is essential that the plate of food looks good. I also like to include stories on the menus about provenance, to show them where their food

cheese for Cheltenham – five tonnes of cheese are consumed during the four-day event – all of it produced within 50 miles of Cheltenham. Diners also eat five tonnes of salmon, 100 per cent of which is cured or smoked and produced within 50 miles (Severn and Wye & Coln Valley) and is 100 per cent sustainable Scottish salmon. Cheltenham provides its own smoke and has its own recipe. “I believe it is about being ahead of the game, so I keep my eye on current trends and marry them up with the clients we have here at Cheltenham. “I am a people watcher and I like to see how they react to what food we present them with. “On racing days they want good hearty food and whenever possible we use produce from the fields of Evesham and nearby,” added Tom. Last year the racecourse won the Food and Beverage category for providing “outstanding variety of offering,” available in the new Princess Royal Stand in the 2016 RCA Showcase and Awards. “It is about flavour and provenance. For me it is vital that our clients have food satisfaction and have enjoyed what they have eaten, because we feel we have achieved something. “It is important that they go away not only talking about their racing experience but that the food at Cheltenham becomes a talking point too.”

“ Local produce is at the heart of what we do

The Cheltenham Club on the top floor of The Princess Royal Stand

has come from. It shows that we are local and seasonal in our approach,” said Tom, an award-winning chef with more than 20 culinary medals. “Local produce is at the heart of what we do – up to 70 per cent of our fruit and veg is sourced from the UK; 70 per cent of all food is sourced locally.” Tom is currently working with one of the racecourse suppliers to create a Festival

culinary feast

Make even more of your raceday and dine with us. For hospitality and restaurants call 01242 537653

Kalendar 23

road to cheltenham

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