The Racing World's social season kicks off on 14 March with the sell-out all ticket three day National Hunt Festival at Cheltenham, the elegant Gloucestershire Spa town. Unlike Royal Ascot of early summer, where gentlemen from London and the Surrey stockbroker belt sport top hat and tails to squire their often overdressed ladies in picture book hats, (will Gloria Montague's photo make it into Tatler again this year?), the Cheltenham National Hunt Festival is essentially a tweedy affair of the Shires. We are in Camilla country. HRH lives down the road and no less than four Hunts, the Beaufort, (with whom Prince Charles and William ride), the Berkeley, the Cotswold and the Heythrop are nearby.
The really smart lady at Cheltenham will sport a discrete enamel horsepin from Aspreys or Garrards on the lapel of her expensive tweed jacket. It will have the family racing colours picked out. And she will be too well wrapped up against the cold March winds for you to see her pearls.
First Great Western have put on a number of special trains to Cheltenham from London Paddington for the occasion. Their de-luxe 1st class reserved service includes a cooked breakfast with Champagne on the 8.45am train up, (copy of your favourite Daily Telegraph included), and a silver service Pullman restaurant dinner on the return journey. I have fond nostalgic memories of the old Great Western Railway and the dining service from the great days of steam. Some of the charm and service instilled by founder, builder, genius of the 19th centrury Isambard Kingdom Brunel has been passed on to the successor company.
The world's greatest annual steeplechase, the 161 year old Martell Grand National at Aintree, Liverpool is just a month away. With prize money of c.US$800,000 at stake there will be a capacity entry from Ireland, France, Britain and USA. As at the end of February, a record 85 horses were still left after the first forfeit stage. To be sure of our badges for the Queen Mother Stand seats I booked before Christmas and reserved places for the excellent lunch in January. As with Cheltenham, I prefer to travel to Aintree in the comfort of the breakfast train from London and return on the dinner train.
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