Another Cheltenham has gone by, the meeting evolving into something that is a depreciated version of the original butterflies in the stomach original that was at its zenith in the 1970's and 1980's.
One pleasing aspect was the willingness of many media members to come out steadfastly against the inevitable introduction of a fifth day. As each year passes more examples of the dilution element can be cited, just as we can cite races from old festivals and conclude what races each of the main protagonists would have been aimed at in today's spoilt for choice menu of a festival.
Of course it would be gross exaggeration and unhelpful in the debate to claim that Dawn Run would have ran in the mares hurdle if that race had existed in 1984, but she would definitely had been in the mares novices instead of that cracking renewal of the Sun Alliance Novice Hurdle in 1983, and it's also plausible to believe that in 1986 the Ryanair would have been considered as an alternative target to the Gold Cup.
You could fill a whole book with these hypothetical examples - just must add too that Allaho would either have lined up for the Champion Chase or more likely the Gold Cup in times gone by. No way he would have been kept at home with the excuse that he's a specialist two and a half miler, something you would never have heard at one time. His absence from one of these races was a great shame and undermines just how versatile many racehorses are if connections are willing to try things out. After all he finished only a length behind a future Gold Cup winner when he ran in the RSA.
And what of plans for Constitution Hill? If, as is plausible, he is the best winner of the Supreme Novices since Golden Cygnet, then a Champion Hurdle route next season should be a no brainer. But talk of an Arkle route being mooted is on the verge of shocking and if connections went down this path, then it would be irrefutable evidence that the Champion Hurdle is now relegated in status behind the Champion Chase. Something very hard to come to terms with for the great majority of mature racing fans.
One must also remember that the Supreme Novices was overall a sterner test in the 1970's, larger fields with hustle and bustle, and generally better quality too. John Burke was aboard the Fred Rimmel trained Western Rose when he finished a distant runner up to Golden Cygnet. His post race comments were testimony to the impression Golden Cygnet made that day. Burke recalled that he had been traveling well on Western Rose coming down the hill to the second last and thought he had a great chance of winning. " Then suddenly this horse appeared on my outside. I couldn't believe it. He looked as though he had just joined in. He was pulling so hard there was blood. All his jockey seemed to do was let out half an inch of rein and he vanished "
When tragedy struck it was not on live TV. If memory serves that 1978 Scottish Champion Hurdle was not shown by ITV racing as it was late on the card. However. World of Sport did if I remember show the final stages around final score time. Golden Cygnet cruising to the front at the last besides Night Nurse when taking that sickening fall, landing on his head then somersaulting.
The viewing audiences then saw him on his feet and hope was that all would be well, but alas he went downhill in the racecourse stables following which a decision was made to transport him from Scotland to Leasowe on the Wirral where the vetenary department of Liverpool University was situated. Sadly the animal who could of been the greatest hurdler of all time succumbed to the affects of a catastrophic neck injury.
If Constitution Hill travels to Punchestown to take on Honeysuckle we will know if he is entitled to be spoken of even in the same breath as Golden Cygnet, but the odds are that he'll now be put away for the season. Let us just hope they do at least start the new campaign with the Champion Hurdle as the target. It would be a great sin not to find out his true level of merit over timber.
It would however be a fair assumption to make that a smaller percentage of the attendees than ever before would be considering these issues. After midway through one of the days you could hear what sounded like the whole stands voicing football chants.
These courses are now reaping what they have sewn. It was certainly hard not to chuckle at the news that many, disgusted at the price hikes for food and drink, vowed not to return again. These seemed to be English ' racegoers' with the profile of those that attend the cult venues during the summer months. The type that the courses are in competition with one another to pull in and why a fifth day will look so attractive on the balance sheets.
The problem going forward is that spare money in the pocket will be generally in shorter supply meaning that racecourse outings will be near the top of the list to draw a line through, particularly as this category of racegoer has no genuine passion for the sport. They 'll search for cheaper attractions away from the racing scene. There will be plenty to be found, leaving many the racecourses at risk of going in the same direction as the greyhound stadiums. With the sport facing crisis on several fronts, such a fall from grace is a possibility. It really is.
This, from a supremely gifted singer, entered the charts in Golden Cygnet's Cheltenham week.
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