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Cheltenham Festival 2010
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Having hit Cheltenham on the Thursday of Festival Week for the past two years, McCarthy and Jones decided to change things up for 2010. With Bert Lloyd making his debut, it was Gold Cup Day we attended, and with it the chance to see what was being billed as the decider between two of the greats - Kauto Star and Denman. McCarthy also put in an appearance on the Wednesday, St Patricks Day, which saw much Guinness drunk and much money lost |
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| Guinness Village was an excellent place to find yourself on St Patricks Day | McCarthy enjoys his first pint at the race course |
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| Amos, despite having to work in the evening, gets in on the beers | This Hollywood-esque sign had been erected by Paddy Power up on Cleeve Hill |
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| The Guinness Village Stand had not blown over this year | The Grandstand was packed on this grey day |
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| Nina Carberry failed to win Wednesday's opening race, leading Amos to describe her as a "fucking bitch" much to most peoples dissaprovement | Katie Walsh, sister of Ruby, was the winner |
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| Brighton and Hove Albion chairman Tony Bloom discusses things with jockey Paddy Brennan and trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies prior to his horse running | Ruby Walsh aboard hot favourite Master Minded - it didn't win |
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| Amos enjoys another beer | McCarthy moves onto Guinness, what with it being the day of the Irish and all |
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| It was good to see Big Jim in the betting ring | The Best Mate enclosure, where McCarthy would be for Gold Cup day |
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| McCarthy gets to meet Tony Bloom. Unfortunately, he was unable to come out on the town with us | McCarthy frequents a local nightclub, now complete with Irish look, to continue Guinness consumption |
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| He is soon proving a hit with the ladies | Even when dressed like a pratt, Burgess Hills Favourite Minor Celebrity manages to get female attention |
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| Jones arrives on Thursday from Portsmouth, and we instantly find ourselves in a pub | Lloyd thumbs through the days Racing Post looking for tips |
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| McCarthy celebrates another winner | Gold Cup Day couldn't begin without a Full English Breakfast, compliments of Danny Granville Street |
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| Jones is straight onto the beer | Lloyd looks happy to have lost his Prestbury Park virginity |
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| McCarthy takes in what is going on around him | The Grand Stand is packed to the rafters for Kauto v Denman - the decider |
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| It is a gloomy day over Cleeve Hill | Lloyd does not look impressed as the heavens open and the rain comes down |
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| The second race of the day prepares for the off | Umbrellas are a must have accessory in this weather. Naturally, we didn't have one |
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| Jones is nervous ahead of the Gold Cup | Lloyd can barely take the tension |
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| This screen allowed us to see what was going on far away | Smoke is used to blank out the Paddy Power sign owing to the fact that the Gold Cup is sponsored by totesport |
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| Imperial Commander leads with Denman in green second and Kauto Star in green and yellow trailing. | Jones comes close to having the winner as Denman comes in second |
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| Lloyd also picks up place money for second | McCarthy meanwhile celebrates his each way bet on Imperial Commander which won with a Warnock Windup |
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| It was good to see Jones had a ride | McCarthy has to wait until we have left the race course to light up his once-a-year cigar owing to the wetness |
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| Jones, despite announcing that this plate was too small to cut pizza on, continues to do so anyway, with the net result being a massive spill onto the floor | Lloyd tucks into curry for dinner |
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| McCarthy is delighted to see Theo Paphitas out and about | A group of people begin dancing in the street. Lloyd is keen to join in |
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| Onto a club, and McCarthy and Lloyd enjoy cocktails | Unfortunately, Lloyd place his on a slanting shelf above a speaker, the combination of which resulted in a smash. This did not stop McCarthy taking the blame |
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| McCarthy continues a fine run of form in the gambling stakes as he wins a bottle of champagne playing blackjack | McCarthy and Lloyd enjoy the champagne. Jones had given up drinking by this point |
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| Lloyd owns the dancefloor | The week wasn't without injury, as a drunk Jones scratched his eyeball while attempting to remove a contact lense, the net result being this eyepatch |
