THE FINAL FURLONG

OCALS AND EXPERTS will tell you that nothing beats the ‘Cheltenham roar’. As the horses in the first race of the Festival take their places at the starting line, the sound rising from the crowd is sheer power and excitement, rippling in waves across the grandstand. As the horses’ hooves thunder across the turf, turning their keen noses to the final straight, the crowds surge forwards to the finish line, hands in the air, waving and cheering for their favourite, their faces a mixture of joy and frustration. Big winners turn to cheer with friends and the winning jockey raises his fist in a gesture of victory, while his horse trots