Gold Cup vs. Grand National vacation?

jardinea

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Planning a girl horse trip next spring and would love feedback on whether we should go to Cheltenham Festival or Grand National?
We want to get in a few days of riding somewhere (not particular about where as we'll rent a car - so we'll take suggestions on that too!) and also prefer a location that offers good hotels and fun social (read: drinking) scene.
I've started looking at hotels in Cheltenham for next year and I'm not having great success so kind of leaning towards Aintree at this point. Any advice is appreciated!
 
I'm about to be shanghai'd for this one but Drinking scene? Liverpool V Cheltenham? Are you kidding? There are quite a few hotels in Liverpool but I'd really recommend you ring round now as most of them have been prebooked the year before.
 
Another thing that may help your decision is weather. Id say grand national as being in april its usually much warmer than cheltenham
 
if you go to the grand national and have time, pop up to Formby to the pinewoods and beach, and feed the red squirrels some nuts from me, I used to live there as a small child, it was a great place to run wild!
 
It depends on what you want to see really.... the Gold cup is THE creme-de-la-creme race of the year but the GN is seen more as an endurance race.... I'd go to Cheltenham... that's a whole week of celebrating rather than just one day.
 
I have not been to Aintree, so cannot comment on that, but Cheltenham is in a lovely part of the country and if you want a good ride whilst you're here, I recommend Jill Carrenza, Google her, she has a website. As for the social side, Cheltenham is full of Irish during race week, so it's pretty jolly wherever you go!
 
Thanks for the replies! I've already been in contact with Jill - her place does look amazing. If we decide Cheltenham we will definitely spend a few days there.

As for the drinking question, Liverpool vs.Cheltenham, nope, not kidding. I have no knowledge of either place (sorry, ignorant foreigner - never been to either area) so not sure what you're hinting at! Let me know what I'm missing. :)
 
Chelterssssssssssssss :D I am not biased. Actually Chelt. isn't that exciting, night life is average... not the best.. plenty of hotels though... are they all booked?
Great atmosphere and stuff at chelt. though :D
 
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