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I went on my first trip to the Cheltenham Festival in 1996, aged 16, as a spectator. Ireland had four winners the first year I was there and it was freezing cold!
I didn’t realise until I went back this year just how big a centrepiece the Gold Cup is. I remember as a 16-year-old, as big a crowd as there was at Cheltenham, there seemed to be a bigger crowd when the Gold Cup came on, and that was the same again this year.
People just seemed to appear out of nowhere. I remember clearly that I watched all the races in my first year but when the Gold Cup came on I wasn’t able to find a place in the stand to watch Imperial Call win.
I had to climb up on the back of a temporary stand to actually watch the race.
We were back the following year. I went on the horse plane on the Monday with Commanche Court, Istabraq, Theatreworld and Finnegan’s Hollow.
Commanche was in the Triumph Hurdle – I was 17 and my dad was training him. Istabraq won his race, Finnegan’s Hollow fell, Theatreworld was second in the Champion Hurdle and Commanche won.
A 50 per cent strike rate on the aeroplane down to my companionship, whispering in their ears!
And Commanche Court obviously went on to finish runner-up behind Best Mate in the 2002 Gold Cup.
That win in 1997 was a brilliant experience and a brilliant result for a small yard.
It was an old-fashioned Triumph then – 30 horses in a huge field, you needed a lot of luck but Commanche was a wonderful little horse and it was a great occasion.
Ruby Walsh: I climbed the back of a grandstand to watch the Gold Cup on my first Cheltenham trip
Ruby recalls his first trip to the Cheltenham Festival on the latest episode of our From the Horse’s Mouth podcast
By Ruby Walsh / Horse Racing Tips / 3 years ago
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I went on my first trip to the Cheltenham Festival in 1996, aged 16, as a spectator. Ireland had four winners the first year I was there and it was freezing cold!
I didn’t realise until I went back this year just how big a centrepiece the Gold Cup is. I remember as a 16-year-old, as big a crowd as there was at Cheltenham, there seemed to be a bigger crowd when the Gold Cup came on, and that was the same again this year.
READ: Ruby Walsh: The Irish Grand National win I didn’t get any satisfaction from
Check the odds on all the latest international racing over at Paddypower.comPeople just seemed to appear out of nowhere. I remember clearly that I watched all the races in my first year but when the Gold Cup came on I wasn’t able to find a place in the stand to watch Imperial Call win.
I had to climb up on the back of a temporary stand to actually watch the race.
We were back the following year. I went on the horse plane on the Monday with Commanche Court, Istabraq, Theatreworld and Finnegan’s Hollow.
Commanche was in the Triumph Hurdle – I was 17 and my dad was training him. Istabraq won his race, Finnegan’s Hollow fell, Theatreworld was second in the Champion Hurdle and Commanche won.
A 50 per cent strike rate on the aeroplane down to my companionship, whispering in their ears!
READ: Ruby Walsh: I used to jump over walls not knowing what was on the other side
Check the odds on all the latest international racing over at Paddypower.comAnd Commanche Court obviously went on to finish runner-up behind Best Mate in the 2002 Gold Cup.
That win in 1997 was a brilliant experience and a brilliant result for a small yard.
It was an old-fashioned Triumph then – 30 horses in a huge field, you needed a lot of luck but Commanche was a wonderful little horse and it was a great occasion.
FROM PADDY POWER’S RACING ICONS DOCUMENTARY WITH RUBY…
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