Novice on the Course? Six Tips for Cheltenham

It's one of the biggest events of the year in the racing calendar - but if you're a novice when it comes to the horses, we've got some top tips for picking a wardrobe and picking a winner...

By Hayley O'Connor

1) One of the great wardrobe conundrums I finally believe I have solved is how to keep warm and comfortable at the races while trying to maintain some sort of style. If you actually plan on leaving a racecourse by foot as oppose to on someone's shoulders or with your shoes in hand, comfortable footwear is essential. The only option is a wedge, and for National Hunt racing, it is usually cold so I would suggest as wedge boot.

As far as the outfit goes, I have devised just one rule: if you look like you're going to a wedding - it’s bad. Fly away fascinators, flouncy dresses and wraps are a fast way to frustration on the racecourse.  As for keeping warm, my tip is that you should plan your outfit starting with your coat or jacket and go from there. A few years ago I invested in a Burberry trench coat and a Mathew Williamson jacket and they are the best fashion investments I've made. Leather gloves are chic and a staple for any racing gal’s bag. 

2) Nicky Henderson is to Cheltenham what you're little black dress is to your wardrobe - A rock solid reliable that can help you get out of jail. If you've backed a couple of losers and want to get back on track, look for this trainer's name on the race card and you'll should quickly return to some winning form. 

3) As the wonderful Marilyn Monroe once sang "Diamonds are a girl’s best friend" but this week I suggest opting for Ruby. One of the greatest jockeys I believe we have ever seen, Ruby Walsh is an incredible athlete and if you keep an eye out for him at the Cheltenham festival, you will get to see this remarkable home-grown talent. Follow Ruby if you’re having a flutter and I think you could be collecting. 

4) If looks could kill: Horses are like humans in the sense that they come in all shapes and sizes, some are good looking and some are, well... not so. But if looks are anything to go by, one horse that I think will be making his way into the winners enclosure is the breath taking Pont Alexandre. He is incredibly beautiful and captivating to watch, so if there was one horse you should pay attention to, it's him. I think he is going to make his owner, billionaire banker Rich Ricci, even richer!

5) The lingo: If you see a nice gentleman who's talking about or watching the Cheltenham races, and you'd like to steal his attention, here are some some bulletproof lines that are sure to spark a conversation..
"I was going to back the favourite, but I'm not convinced he'll get up the hill."
"As everyone knows, it's horses for courses at Cheltenham"

6) Celeb Where's Wally: if you have no interest in the racing but your other half refuses to turn off the coverage from Cheltenham, one thing you could do is play a sort of Celeb Where's Wally. People you might see at the festival include the British Royal Family; Dame Judy Dench; Jordan; Manchester United Manager Alex Ferguson, in fact, lots of footballers, (none of whom I would probably recognise), Naomi Campbell... the list is long and the A-listers are plenty.

Happy Cheltenham everybody!

 

Hayley O'Connor is the Irish voice and face of Ladbrokes. She is also a successful racehorse owner and breeder and, recently, despite being almost 5 foot 11 inches, has tried her hand at being a jockey! She’ll be tweeting live from Cheltenham and you can follow her on Twitter @hayleyladbrokes