The November Meeting is back with a bang this year! Friday 12th-Sunday 14th November will be packed full of top-quality racing, hospitality, and entertainment for punters both at Cheltenham racecourse and at home. This is an unmissable event at the home of Jump Racing which The Wine Tipster is excited to present at. Here he shares his top hospitality tips and racing selections ahead of the weekend.

Racing

Countryside Day (Friday 12th) launches the meeting off in style with six outstanding races including Handicap Chase (1:45), The Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Steeplechase (2:55), and The Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle Race (3:30).

Paddy Power Day (Saturday 13th) features seven exciting races including the biggest Jump racing fixture before Christmas: Gold Cup Handicap Chase (2:15). Last year, Coole Cody joined the historic list of Gold Cup winners, who will be joining them this year?

Finally, Family Fun Day (Sunday 14th) rounds off the meeting with top-quality entertainment all day alongside the last six thrilling races of The November. The highlight of the schedule is The Unibet Greatwood Handicap Hurdle (2:55).

Catch most of the weekend’s races on ITV and check out Race Replays for the action right after it’s happened. For all the information on the weekend’s schedule of races, download your Digital Racecard with The Jockey Club App.

Hospitality

The next question after which races to watch and who to back is where to watch them from? Cheltenham’s three enclosures each boast a unique racegoer experience with different hospitality options. The Best Mate Enclosure has a top class view of the Grandstand and course and a good selection of food outlets; The Tattersalls Enclosure gets you closer to the action of the Winner’s Enclosure and Winning Post as well as having great views from the Grandstand and top food options; and finally, The Club Enclosure will get you into all the food and drink outlets and racecourse areas for a truly premier Cheltenham experience.

This year’s food and drink options are second-to-none, with something to satisfy every racegoer from mobile catering units to luxury bars and restaurants. See below for a map of all the top attractions this meeting:

The Wine Tipster is especially excited about visiting The November Lounge over the weekend, and with its TV and bar, what more could he need! The wines on offer across the course are particularly special this year, and The Wine Tipster is looking forward to presenting on the wine list and the value of raceday hospitality in the Panoramic Restaurant and the Cheltenham Club on the top floor of The Princess Royal Stand.

In particular, the following wines really stand out from the wine list and are well worth a try if you are at the course or at home:

• Bolney Estate Foxhole Vineyards Pinot Gris 2019, Sussex England – an aromatic and fruity white wine which is medium-bodied and smooth with plenty of fresh pear and citrus. Goes well with fish, goat’s cheese, and spice.
• Petaluma White Label Chardonnay 2019, Adelaide Hills, Australia – a rich and complex white wine with lovely creaminess and ripe melon on the palate. Goes well with risotto and smoked fish.
• St Hallett Faith Shiraz 2018, Barossa, Australia – a medium-bodied and spicy red with dark berry fruits and pepper and chocolate tones. Goes well with lamb, slow-cooked stews, and meat dishes.
• Catena Appellation Vista Flores Malbec 2018, Mendoza, Argentina – a rich and complex red which is highly rated and full-bodied. Goes well with steak.
• Château Léoube Rosé de Léoube 2020, Côtes de Provence, France – a classy and elegant rosé with flavours of wild strawberries. Goes well with seafood and lighter dishes.

If you’re not at Cheltenham this weekend, you can still get in the racing spirit with a Glenfarclas cocktail (sponsors of the Cross Country Handicap Steeplechase). Why not try the delicious and easy to make 105 Mizu-Wari cocktail with 25ml Glenfarclas 105 and 150ml Soda water, served long with lots of ice and garnished with an orange slice.

Entertainment

The November Meeting is always packed with fun and exciting entertainment from music to family fun activities. This year is no different, with a spectacular range of features to enjoy. Countryside Day has a huge amount to offer, with a Gun Dog Display and Hound Parade, the ROR parade, an Air Display from the Bremont Great War Display Team, Kaleb Cooper from Clarkson’s Farm, and the return of the Tattersalls Cheltenham November Sale. For more shopping opportunities, make your way to The Shopping Village with over 70 trade stands.

For great music, the Hipcats will be walking around bringing Jazz to every corner of the racecourse and in the Village, The Lucky 15’s are playing between races. After-racing entertainment across the three days will also include a DJ set from BBC Radio 1’s Chris Stark and The Chip Shop Boys.

Looking for some family fun? Sunday’s activities for all the family include a bouncy castle, inflatable fun, animals from St James City Farm, face painting, arts and crafts, pet balloons, and much more! Under 18s go free and 18-24 year olds get half price tickets, so why not make it a family day out to Cheltenham?

For more information on the weekend’s schedule of events, check out the November Meeting website here.

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The Wine Tipster wishes you the best November Meeting yet and hopes you enjoy the raceday hospitality experience. Share how you celebrate with him on Social Media, subscribe to his latest blogs here, and look out for his Unibet Racing blogs across the weekend. Cheers!

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The Jump Season is already into its stride and we have seen some eye-catching performances already. Here, The Wine Tipster shares his top 10 horses to follow this Jump Season. Some of these have already had their seasonal debut, others to race very soon.

Hurdlers

Hillcrest (Henry Daly)

Hillcrest is such an impressive looking individual and this highly regarded type surely has plenty of improvement to come this season. In his two bumpers he finished second first time out to Wiseguy and then beat Armand De Brignac, with Harper’s Brook in third, who won at Carlisle on seasonal debut. There is no doubt that Hillcrest is seen as having a very bright future by his trainer and it would be great to see him do so well for the late Trevor Hemmings. He is entered at Aintree on Saturday.

Soaring Glory (Jonjo O’Neill)

Soaring Glory looked the real deal when winning Newbury’s big February handicap and then didn’t quite hit the level in the Supreme at Cheltenham when fourth to the top class Appreciate It. However, he bounced right back at Ascot on Saturday when winning the London Handicap Hurdle Listed Race when tipped up in my Unibet column. This six-year-old looked very visually impressive after his Summer break and beat a good field with something in hand after looking the winner someway out. Jonjo O’Neill might run Soaring Glory at the Cheltenham November Meeting, although more likely at Newbury at the end of the month.

Nightboattoclyro (Sam Drinkwater)

Very well backed on seasonal reappearance last year and beat Hooper fair and square with form that looks very good now and after two more wins at Chepstow and Wetherby before he lost his form (although still running respectably) in the Spring. Only had the nine hurdles starts – winning four of them – and gives the impression there’s still more to come when stepped up in trip slightly. Watch for him first time up, especially if the ground is on the soft side. 

Bear Ghylls (Nicky Martin)

It’s possible, given his size, that he might go chasing this year but his jumping, to an extent, held him back a bit last year and if that can be tidied up a bit there’s still some good races to be won with him over hurdles this season. Ready winner of first three starts before his jumping again cost him a place in the Ballymore but he kept trying all the way to the line regardless, and it would be no surprise if he stepped up in trip this year. Exciting prospect, whatever discipline connections decide to go for. 

Peking Rose (Fergal O’Brien)

Unusually for them, connections have taken their time with him (presumably because he’s a bit weak) and that could pay off this season. Good fourth in an Ascot bumper and then better still when second to Knappers Hill at Aintree, doing a lot of good late work under patient tactics and looked very much like 2m4f+ will suit him as a novice this year. Peking Rose was third on seasonal debut at Ascot to Kandoo Kid and will step up from that performance as he has loads to come as he strengthens up. 

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Chasers

Beatthebullett (Rebecca Curtis)

Lovely, big gelding that made a good impression when successful at Hereford over hurdles last November and, when given time to get over that, ran better than finishing position suggested at Haydock showing up well for a long way before getting tired. Thrown in at deep end in the Albert Bartlett, unsurprisingly tailed off but I’d expect him to improve a lot for fences this year (has won two Irish points) and can see him making up into one of the better novice chasers. 

Quinta Do Mar (Ben Pauling)

Scopey, good-looking gelding that stood out in the paddock at both Market Rasen and Ludlow last year, successful in the latter and should have won at Market Rasen but maybe jockey kicked on too soon and he was caught late on. Not disgraced on handicap debut at Cheltenham, fell last when still in touch and, as unexposed as he is, has plenty of potential for fences this season. Quinta Do Mar won a Handicap Hurdle at Carlisle on seasonal reappearance in October going away from Onehundredpercent when ridden very confidently. There is plenty more to come here.

Third Time Lucki (Dan Skelton)

Third Time Lucki was so eye-catching at The Showcase Meeting at Cheltenham on ground that was definitely on the quick side. He pulled himself to the front and won so comfortably after jumping in great style on chasing debut. Last season he had seven starts and will be campaigned differently this term with the Arkle in March the target.

Onchan (Nigel Twiston-Davies)

Lovely, lengthy sort that’s made for fences (is a full brother to Lord Windermere, amongst others); in truth, disappointing that he couldn’t get off the mark over hurdles but had issues (treated for post-race ataxia on one occasion) and maybe final Ludlow run was one too many for the year, but you’d expect him to do a lot better over fences, given that pedigree and his size, so too soon to be giving up on him yet. He is entered at Aintree on Saturday.

Any News (Neil Mulholland)

Looked very useful in bumpers/novice hurdles early in career but things didn’t go his way last year. However, the fact that he was thrown in at the deep end shows what they thought he was capable of and he travelled as well as anything in the Swinton and he lost nothing in defeat to a race-fit rival at Warwick last week with things again not going his way. He remains with the potential to make up into a very useful chaser if he can keep his exuberance in check (wore red hood at Warwick, keen). On seasonal debut Any News was third at Cheltenham behind Third Time Lucki, who is Arkle bound, when running on and can build on that performance.

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Keep up to date with The Wine Tipster’s tips throughout Jump Season with his Unibet Racing blog and across his Social Media. For more racing, wine and hospitality content, subscribe to get the next blog straight to your inbox.

The countdown is over. The Cheltenham Festival is finally here, and The Wine Tipster is excited to make this year’s At Home Festival unforgettable for all the right reasons. Read on for top tipples to accompany you through the four days of unbeatable racing and how you can recreate the electric Roar of Cheltenham at home.

Cheltenham is synonymous with superb racing, and The Festival is the pinnacle of the Jump season. The Festival has been held at Cheltenham since 1911, and The Stayers’ Hurdle is the oldest championship race having first been run in 1912. Over its many successful years, the Festival has expanded from three days to four, and now boasts four days of seven-race cards, 14 Grade One races and some of the best horses, trainers and jockeys in the world. It really is Horseracing’s Olympics!

This year, The Festival is supporting the charity WellChild. WellChild is a national charity that gives sick children the best chance to thrive through support at home and for their families.

Celebrate in Style

To match the atmosphere and excitement of each day of racing, The Wine Tipster has chosen some Grade 1 wines and spirits to give you that wonderful Cheltenham experience at home:

Day One Tues 16 March

Kicking off The Festival is an incredible card of four Grade One races including the top class Unibet Champion Hurdle. Start your At Home Festival off with a bang with a Cheltenham Sponsor, Nyetimber. Their world-renowned English Sparkling Wine is meticulously crafted in West Sussex, Hampshire and Kent, Their Classic Cuvée MV is a wonderfully elegant option for the start of The Festival. Pair it with smoked salmon blinis for a great aperitif.

For a touch of Pink at the start of Cheltenham, Château Léoube’s artisan organic wines are just the thing. Their award-winning Rosé de Léoube is a rosé for all seasons, full of mineral notes and fruit on the palate. Pair with a light lunch and you have yourself a winner.

Day Two Wed 17 March

As the going gets underway, there are seven classic races to really spoil punters. The Grade One Queen Mother Champion Chase is set to be an unmissable watch, as is the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase. Watch it with a Glenfarclas 15 year old Single Malt on the rocks. The rich history of this family owned business make for award-winning Sherry cask aged malts in the traditional Speyside way.

Day Three 18 March

Not one but three Grade 1 races make Thursday a truly magnificent day. Hold on to your Racing Gin & Tonic throughout the Marsh Novices’ Chase. Ryanair Chase and the Stayers’ Hurdle ! Racing Gin is a recent addition to the gin scene, but is perfect for race lovers. Featuring beautiful silks on the label, and with a herbaceous and floral taste, this gin is great with a classic tonic water or in any cocktail.

Gold Cup Day Fri 19 March

Saviour the outstanding Gold Cup Day – the pinnacle of the Cheltenham Festival. With the coveted Grade One WellChild Cheltenham Gold Cup featured as the Blue Riband of Jump racing, you’ll surely be wanting a bottle to match the magnificence of The Festival’s finale. Jack Mann Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 from Houghton Wines in the Swan Valley in Western Australia, pays homage to the great winemaker Jack Mann MBE, who shared a birthday with Gold Cup Day! It’s a rich and concentrated red with a pure Cabernet Sauvignon dark fruits, spicy, oaky notes and a wonderful long finish. Decant for a couple of hours beforehand, this is delicious with a Roast.

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For more food pairing ideas, get inspired with world class hospitality recipes from The Jockey Club’s top chefs. All the dishes work well with the bottles here, and are a great way to get the Cheltenham Hospitality experience at home.

If you really want to bring Cheltenham home, get yourself an At Home Hamper! Brought to you by British Fine Foods, these luxury hampers come in three options, full of award-winning food from artisan producers across the UK. Each hamper comes with a different bottle to really make your At Home experience special. Order here in time for The Festival! 10% of each hamper sale will go to WellChild.

Be Raceday Ready

• Check out how to watch The Festival from home. ITV Racing and Racing TV will be showing The Festival, and if you miss any of the action, The Jockey Club’s Racing Replays are available 20 minutes after the winner crosses the line.
• The official racecard is available here with details of horses and jockeys available here.
• Find out more about each of the top quality races here.
• Put your racing knowledge to the test with The Ultimate Racing Quiz featuring Double Grand National-winning jockey Ruby Walsh and Gold Cup-winning Jockey and Festival legend Barry Geraghty
• The Race Results and Winners page will help in your revision for the quiz!
• Download The Jockey Club App with a digital racecard, live updates, competitions and the latest odds at your fingertips.
• Check out the latest editions of Kalendar Magazine between races
• Why not impress your friends and family with some top facts and stats!
• Got kids? Find some fun raceday activities for them to enjoy here – host a mini best dressed competition, make hats or turn your garden into a track!
• You can still dress the part from your home! Browse out The Jockey Club website for At Home Style inspiration.

However you choose to celebrate this superb meeting, share pictures and comments with The Wine Tipster on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook and make sure to follow him for daily updates and Unibet Racing Blogs.

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Jump Season is well underway, and as we await the return of The Festival at Cheltenham in the Spring, The November Meeting is where the magic really starts. As the biggest Jump racing fixture before Christmas, the November Meeting is unmissable. Celebrate this three day meeting with The Wine Tipster from the comfort of your own home this year.

Kick off the November Meeting with Wednesday night’s Preview Evening hosted by Tom Nugent featuring Ruby Walsh, Paddy Power, ITV Racing, Mick Fitzgerald and Emma Lavelle. Join the panel at 8pm via Zoom as they chat through the racecards and horses to watch out for.

Countryside Day – Friday 13th Nov

Starting the Meeting in style, Countryside Day features 6 amazing races including The Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Steeple Chase at 3:00 – a must see for all Cross Country fans, and a great excuse for a Glenfarclas Whiskey to accompany it! The 1:50 Handicap Chase is another great Class 2 race. For the full race schedule check out the Cheltenham Website here, and for a line up of horses, see Racing Post here.

Saturday 14th November

Featuring the iconic 2:15 Gold Cup Steeple Chase and 6 other quality races, Saturday’s racecard is spectacular. The Wine Tipster is looking forward to the 12:30 JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial and the 1:40 Arkle Challenge Trophy Trial Novices Steeple Chase, both of which highlight the top racing talent who will go on to The Festival in March.

Tune in to races live on ITV Racing across all three days, or on Racing TV. Race Replays are also available 20 minutes after the winner crosses the line, and is a great way to watch racing highlights from over the years. Check the November Meeting results here!

Sunday 15th November

The final day of the meeting, and the last chance to see the thrilling races such as the 1:15 Novices’ Steeple Chase, the 2:25 Shloer Steeplechase (another great excuse for a drink with a Shloer mixer!), the unmissable Unibet Greatwood Hurdle Race at 3:00, the 3:35 Supreme Trial Novices’ Hurdle Race and the 4:05 Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race which is a great quality flat race this time of year.

November Meeting At Home

With racing remaining behind closed doors, The Jockey Club and the Wine Tipster have an array of ways to celebrate the meeting in style from the Jump Season Hub.

• See Claisse’s Corner for all course updates and the Going video ahead of racing each morning.
• Read Kalendar Magazine from The Jockey Club South West, full of great interviews with top jockeys such as Jonjo O’Neill Jr and his father Jonjo O’Neill Snr and Cheltenham Racecourse Director Zara Tindall MBE.
• Why not train like a jockey with an online Barre Class from Torre Barre, starting 15th November.
• You could host a Cheltenham Countryside Raceday Lunch at home on Friday 13th November whilst making a donation to the Countryside Alliance for The Great British Get Together. Share your pics with the hashtags #Chelfie and #gbgettogether with @CheltenhamRaces.
• Got kids to entertain? Why not include them in the raceday fun with an activity pack! Full of wordsearches, colouring pages and facts, you might even find yourself tempted to print one too!

Nyetimber Classic Cuvée MV, Sussex (Waitrose £36.99, Majestic)

To celebrate a winner or two enjoy a glass of bubbly from Nyetimber, who produce Grade 1 English Sparkling. Their dry, Classic Cuvée MV is a beautiful blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, with a lovely balance of intensity and elegance. Winemaker Cherie Spriggs is making wonderful wines so look to try to try their Nyetimber Rosé NV too from Waitrose at £39.99.

Les Dauphins Côtes du Rhône Blanc 2018, Rhône, France (£8.00 in Asda and Tesco)

This blend of Grenache Blanc and Viognier is great value and so versatile. Les Dauphins made by leading Rhône producer Cellier des Dauphins has fruity notes of apricot and peach, complemented by ripe fruitiness and lovely smoothness. Great as an aperitif, with salads, seafood and chicken in a creamy sauce.  

Château Léoube Rosé 2019, Provence, France, (Daylesford shop £17.95) 

Provence in Southern France is the obvious place to go for classic pale pink, lighter styles of rosé. Château Léoube is very delicate and elegant and this dry organic rosé is lovely on its own or with some salmon, seafood or cheese. Château Léoube has the most fantastic location and they also produce beautiful olive oil available at Daylesford too.  Lord and Lady Bamford, owners of Château Léoube and Daylesford, are big horse racing fans and owners.  

St. Hallett ‘Faith’ Shiraz 2018, Barossa Valley, Australia (£16.99 and £14.99 mixed case of six Stockist: Majestic)

This is classic Barossa Valley Shiraz with bold flavours of pepper, plums with herbaceous and savoury character too, whilst never being too heavy on the palate this is a wine to savour. Great with a roast or full flavoured vegetarian dishes.

The Wine Tipster will be celebrating the day by pairing these bottles with a delicious local cheese, Rollright, pork pies from his local Butchers, and some top quality Severn & Wye Smoked Salmon.

As the Meeting ends on Sunday, why not celebrate with a classic Roast Dinner. Looking for some inspiration for your Sunday Roast? The Jockey Club’s Head Chef, Warren O’Connor, suggests Roast Sirloin and Crunchy Roast Potatoes here. This would go down a treat with any of the Red Wines mentioned above or in The Wine Tipster’s Autumnal Reds suggestions for The Jockey Club, available here.

The Wine Tipster hopes The November Meeting bring some much needed fun this Winter, and that you can enjoy it safely at home. Share how you celebrate with him on Social Media, and subscribe to his latest blogs here.

The Wine Tipster is aiming to finish 2016 on a high and will be busy over the festive season at Kempton, Warwick and Cheltenham. The Winter Festival at Kempton takes place on Boxing Day and December 27th featuring high class Grade 1 racing, entertainment for all and lots of festive cheer.

The Boxing Day meeting features three Grade 1 races including the Festival’s flagship race, the 32Red King George VI Chase which has been won by greats such as Desert Orchid, Best Mate, Kauto Star and, most recently, Cue Card, who must have a great chance of following up last year’s success. As ever, you can follow his tips in Racing Plus, with Boxing Day’s selections in the Christmas Eve issue. More information about The Winter Festival can be found here.

Start your New Year celebrations early at the very popular Warwick racecourse on New Year’s Eve and catch up with The Wine Tipster for some food, wine and racing chat. On New Year’s Day, join the first day of ITV’s racing coverage at Cheltenham. This signifies the beginning of an exciting new period and I wish all the best to the presenters and all the team.

Across all the Jockey Club courses you can sample a great selection of excellent wines including English wines from the Best of British Selection. Highlights include Nyetimber Classic Cuvée from Sussex and Chapel Down English Rosé from Kent. Other favourites include Château Leoubé Rosé, Catena Appellation Vista Flores Malbec, Brunello di Montalcino, Castello Banfi, Masut Estate Pinot Noir from California as well as some great Champagnes especially the Moët & Chandon vintage for a celebration.

Wherever you are over the festive season, go and enjoy some fantastic racing!

Merry Christmas.

With four winners out of seven on Saturday, The Wine Tipster is on winning form. He successfully backed Gentleman Jon (9/1 backed at 14/1) who won the feature Badger Ales Trophy at Wincanton, Thomas Brown, Growl and Un Temps Pour Tout in his On The Box column on Saturday. This sparkling form follows on from his successful tips in recent weeks with Rosie Briar tipped up at Doncaster at 20/1 and Antony in the competitive Sodexo Gold Cup Handicap Chase at 11/1 (backed at 14/1).

This weekend, he will be presenting at The Open at Cheltenham where he will be combining his key passions, talking racing, wine and food. The Open provides three days of adrenalin-packed action with the highlight of the first half of the Jump season, the BetVictor Gold Cup.

Racing also takes place on Sunday (the only Sunday racing that takes place at Cheltenham throughout the year) with entertainment for the whole family to enjoy as well as six races on the card including feature race, The Greatwood Hurdle. Greatwood is the fantastic horse welfare charity who care for retired racehorses and educate disadvantaged children and young adults with special educational needs.
Look out for The Wine Tipster’s selections in On The Box in Racing Plus on Saturday with the BetVictor Gold Cup at Cheltenham the main race of the day.

Neil Phillips, racing pundit, twitter tipster, wine connoisseur, Champagne & Sparkling expert and wine performer can be followed @thewinetipster and also at www.thewinetipster.co.uk

More buzz, more anticipation and more hype were on the menu for the first day of The Cheltenham Festival at Prestbury Park in Gloucestershire. There was also a beautiful spring day to bring out the crowds for four days of competitive championship racing.

Willie Mullins was rightly tipped to be the trainer of the week and kicked off the start of The Festival with Vautour winning the Sky Bet Supreme Hurdle, whilst his Champagne Fever in the Racing Post Arkle and my hot tip in to get the champagne corks popping

was just pipped on the post by the 33/1 outsider Western Warhorse. In the feature race of the day and the main race of meeting in my book Mullins had Hurricane Fly bidding to achieve his third Stan James Champion Hurdle, with my other hotpot for the day, My Tent or Yours the winner for me. In a race marred by the fatal fall of Our Conor My Tent or Yours just failed to beat Jezki, with Hurricane Fly back in fourth. Whilst Mullins was obviously downcast after Hurricane Fly’s fourth place, his incredible little mare Quevega then became the first horse to win six races at The Cheltenham Festival when battling in determined fashion to win the OLBG Mares’ Final for the six consecutive year. Incredible mare, incredible training performance.

My day of previewing and tipping for JPFEstival.com in The Gold Cup Restaurant featured one winner and three frustrating seconds! A frustrating day had a sweetener with The Wine Tipster’s day saved by winning the placepot!

Another great day ahead.

New Year’s Day at Cheltenham Racecourse was very wet and windy, with the racecourse team doing a great job in keeping racing going for the afternoon. Although racegoers were rewarded with some impressive performances by Annie Power, Oscar Whisky and Mendip Express it was certainly a day for staying inside and enjoying some liquid refreshment in the various racecourse bars.

The Golden Miller Champagne Bar was certainly a popular spot with many punters raising a glass of Piper Heidsieck Brut NV or those who had hit the jackpot were enjoying some delicious Dom Pérignon 2002.  In the Final Flight bar Adam Henson’s  Rare Breed Bitter, brewed by Butcombe Brewery, was doing a roaring trade.

On Cheltenham Racecourse Radio when interviewed in the wind and rain by presenter Rupert Bell before racing I tipped Oscar Whisky, who won, whilst my other tip Burton Port, was clearly off colour.  Rupert had set me the task of finding a warming drink at the course and Tullamore Dew’s hot toddy was certainly enticing, however the Fireside bar delivered the goods with their not over spiced mulled wine. Hopefully when I’m back on Cheltenham Racecourse Radio on January 25th we can talk about good ground and dry conditions.

In terms of liquid refreshment, the festive period equalled quality imbibing in 2013 with the stunning Champagne Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve NV, whilst my last bottle of Perrier- Jouët Millésime 1998 fizz was an exquisite, beautiful and complex champagne to savour on Christmas Day.  Château D’Anglès Classique Rosé 2012,  La Clape, Sud de France made from Mourvèdre, Syrah and Grenache was a top class, cerebral pink for Christmas Eve.  Dalmau Marqués de Murrieta Reserva 2005 made from fruit from their sixty year-old vines in their single vineyard plot Canajas was a brilliant example of what Rioja achieves at Group 1 level and tasted great with the duck. Folks never think enough about fortified wines at Christmas and Gonzalez Byass’ Matusalem Oloroso Dulce Muy Viejo VORS Sherry was outstanding with the stilton and mince pies over the festive period.

Boxing Day came with grade one racing from Kempton Park and it was great to see our local trainer Charlie Longsdon win at this high profile meeting with Loose Chips. The elegant Meerlust Pinor Noir 2011 from Stellenbosch in South Africa was perfect the with ham from Slatters’ Butchers in Chadlington and for armchair viewing too!

New Year Eve’s drew in with Louis Roederer’s Brut Premier NV and like my tips will be for 2014 this champagne was right on the money!

 

Zoe Bawtree interviews The Wine Tipster ahead of The Cheltenham Food & Drink Festival 14^th – 16^th June 2013.

Q) As you are an expert on Wine, Food, Horse Racing, UK Ambassador for the famous Champagne houses G.H. Mumm and Perriër-Jouet, Master of Ceremonies . . . to name a few is there anything you can’t do?

A) Actually I can’t build a shelf and I can’t do circus acts, especially juggling!!

Q) How did you get interested in Wine?

A) I was a punk rocker living in Gloucestershire, who headed north to Sheffield to see some great bands, whilst doing a degree in Urban Studies and a dissertation on deprivation! Post graduating I went for interviews with record companies before my parents, who were members of a wine society, told me to come along to a wine talk and try some Chardonnays from around the world.

Q) What is it that excites you about wine?

A) There’s a wine for every mood you may have, every occasion. As a taster I am always looking for something new.  At the moment, I am getting excited about wines from Croatia, Brazil and Germany.

Discovering new wines is really exciting, but so is tasting a wine that you already know.  I associate wine with memories. Wine is also very challenging and different every year.  You can never get bored with wine.

Q) As a food and wine matching expert, can you recommend wines to go with the following dishes?

Coq Au Vin, Fish Pie and Beef Wellington

A) Coq Au Vin: Cotes du Rhone 2012, Les Dauphins or Aurora Pinot Noir Reserve 2012 from Brazil
Fish Pie: Kleine Zalze Vineyard Selection Chenin Blanc 2011, South Africa or Josif Graševina 2011 from Croatia
Beef Wellington: You need a level of intensity with this dish which you could get from a Cabernet Sauvignon from Santa Rita or a lovely Bordeaux from the brilliant 2009 vintage.

Q) Is it still possible to find hidden gems in the supermarket?

A) Yes it is. Knowing regions that are not fashionable is always a good start. Croatia has some fantastic wines from indigenous and classic grape varieties.  Portugal has quality wines at all levels, white or red. Germany is producing some wonderful Rieslings that are great as an aperitif style and match up with fish like mackerel as they can really stand up to dominant flavours.

Q) What are you looking forward to at The Cheltenham Food and Drink Festival in June this year?

A) We are running wine masterclasses on all three days of the show for the first time this year. Our wonderful wine journey will start on Friday at 12.30pm with Podere Sant’ Alberto wines (pictured above) from Tuscany and end on Sunday afternoon by Celebrating with Wines of Brazil!

In between, we will be tasting some exciting wines from Spain, England, Croatia, New Zealand, France, South Africa and Germany.

Also, we have some great beer speakers this year with Tim Hampson, Jane Peyton and Sophie Atherton.  And let’s not forget Phil Huckle who will be talking about Malts and Blended Whiskies.

Look forward to seeing you there. Cheers!

For further details check out the Cheltenham Food & Drink Festival

The Wine Tipster saw Long Run beat the mighty Denman and Kauto Star to win The Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2011 (the most emotional reception I have witnessed at any racecourse for the first three, who were all winners) and yet this gutsy effort to beat two great champions took so much out of Long Run that he will never win a Gold Cup again in my opinion. It was hard to fancy him yesterday at the unfriendly odds of 11-8 to beat either Silviniaco Conti or The Giant Bolster in the Betfair Chase and whilst he managed to beat David

Bridgewater’s horse, Long Run couldn’t cope with the jumping display of the Nicholls’ trained Silviniaco Conti. Long Run is not a smooth jumper, yet his class still keeps him very competitive in races and in an open Cheltenham Gold Cup I will take some 8/1 each way on him finishing in the first three.

Was Nicky Henderson right to run Finian’s Rainbow in the extreme going? The horse never looked happy and you wonder if the winning pot had been smaller as to whether Finian’s Rainbow would have been pulled out. At Cheltenham the previous weekend the Henderson trained Spinning Sacre wasn’t risked because of the deteriorating ground conditions in the Sholer Chase and you do wonder whether Henderson should have done the same yesterday. Let’s hope the very talented Finian’s Rainbow puts in a winning performance in his next race.

Cheltenham Racecourse fully deserves its reputation as the centre of jump racing and The Open Meeting, November 15^th – 17^th proved this once again. Not only does Cheltenham provide quality racing to an appreciative crowd, there is also plenty to engage the racegoer before, during and after racing with the popular exhibitor village, including a range of clothing, jeweller, arts and the expanding Food Hall, which featured the high quality cheeses from Philip Stansfield at The Cornish Cheese Co and delicately flavoured meats from The Cotswold Curer.

Some horses to watch out for from The Open included the David Pipe trained Dynaste in the Steel Plate and Sections Novices Chase, who looked very accomplished and one to have in your selection at The Cheltenham Festival. Another Pipe horse, Ashkazar, who can be a tricky customer, was given a quiet ride by Timmy Murphy at the back of the race in the Henrietta Knight Handicap Chase before pulling up and I’ll be looking out for him next time he runs at Cheltenham. I would also like to see where Emma Lavelle goes next with Bouggler, who looked in excellent condition on returning after a lay off and wasn’t given a hard time once he weakened in the Ultima Business Solutions Handicap Hurdle.

 

 

 

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