BoyleSports Horse Racing Ambassador Robbie Power has called for the Cheltenham Festival to not be expanded to 5 days.
The comment comes with speculation in recent years that an extra 5th day could be added to the Cheltenham Festival.
Power has warned that adding an extra day could dilute the quality of the Festival and even went as far as to question whether 4 days is too much with some of the current races being questionable.
As part of this interview the Cheltenham Gold Cup winning jockey also talked about the potential of Cheltenham becoming a victim of its own success, the Cheltenham centric nature of the National Hunt racing calendar, his take on the state of the current Republic of Ireland team plus more.
We Need To Keep Cheltenham At 4 Days
I hope it doesn’t go up to 5 days, that’s for sure. Even at 4 days now with a couple of the races it has, you’d question whether they should be in there or not so I hope it doesn’t get diluted any more, we need to keep it at four days.
Are We Getting A Little Too Cheltenham Centric? Possibly
It is a little bit that way, I suppose. There are some other big races out there pre and after Cheltenham so it all comes thick and fast as you have Cheltenham, then the Irish Grand National, Fairyhouse and then Aintree, Punchestown after that.
A lot of people want to go to Cheltenham – owners, jockeys, trainers - and the rest of it just really slots into place after that.
I am really looking forward to it – there would be something wrong with you if you were not looking forward to it. It’s the be all and end all of the National Hunt season so I can’t wait.
* You can bet on all the top class Festival action this month with the latest Cheltenham odds at BoyleSports.
Danger Of The Casual Punter Being Priced Out Of Cheltenham
This year especially, at the Dublin Racing Festival there was a huge amount of English people over for the two days, eight Grade 1 races, people found it much better value than Cheltenham.
Cheltenham could become a bit of a victim of its own success but that is something that has to be monitored. There will always be big crowds there but you have to make sure that punters are wanting to go there.
I wasn’t One For Pre-race Rituals
I just usually got on the horse and rode it. I suppose one superstition I had was that I would always put my goggles on top of my helmet as the last thing I did before a race. Apart from that, I just got on with it!
Even Sir Alex Ferguson Couldn’t Turn This Rep. Of Ireland Team Around
I think if you had Sir Alex Ferguson or Jurgen Klopp in charge, they wouldn’t turn the Republic of Ireland national team around at the moment.
They need someone like Roy Keane back playing for them rather than managing, that might be better. We don’t have the quality of players at the moment but hopefully it will turn around.
Xabi Alonso The Man To Replace Jurgen Klopp
I enjoyed the Carabao Cup Final a lot. I gave my 5-year-old daughter an awful fright when Van Dijk scored and I jumped up off the couch, frightening the life out of her.
Liverpool have obviously been very good over the last few years but now Jurgen Klopp is in his final season so will they be as dominant or as good? I don’t know, it’ll change.
I’d get Xabi Alonso in. I think he has done a fantastic job with Leverkusen and he fits the bill - an ex-player, extremely good midfielder, plays a great style of football and is reminiscent of him as a player.
You have to give Klopp credit for bringing on the young lads. Most managers would have stuck with the 11 players on the pitch that started, the more senior players, to try and see it through but Klopp knew he needed fresh legs and those fresh legs were the young lads. Fair play to them for stepping up to the mark.
* Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen are 1/7 favourites to win the Bundesliga this season according to the latest football odds at BoyleSports.
Having high-profile owners like Sir Alex, Graeme McDowell and Brooks Koepka is great for our sport
Having him around the sport as an owner and a fan is huge for racing. I see Brooks Koepka and Graeme McDowell now as well and other golfers, Lee Westwood for example, they are all getting involved. Having high-profile interest is massive.
New faces are always great. Racing is an expensive sport and you need these new owners coming in and having success. I wish them all success.
*Prices subject to fluctuation.
Remember, always gamble responsibly . Here’s our Safer Gambling Guide .
