We had a full house on Monday 9th March for our first Cheltenham Preview Night, with plenty of racing chat, a few strong opinions in the mix… and a fantastic £800 raised for the Injured Jockeys Fund along the way.
The evening was a real success, drawing a strong turnout from the local racing community – with a special thanks to The Stewards Racing Club for their support in helping drive the fundraising.
Tickets were £20, which included a burger and a pint, with £5 from each ticket donated directly to the Injured Jockeys Fund. Additional funds were raised on the night through games, a raffle, and some healthy competition across the room.
Racing insight, big calls & plenty of debate
The evening was hosted by Talksport’s Alex Crook, who set the tone with a Cheltenham-themed heads and tails to get things underway.
He was joined by tipster Daryl Carter and Cheltenham-winning jockey Mattie Batchelor, with the panel offering a mix of insight, opinion, and lively debate throughout. One of the standout discussions centred around Lossiemouth – put forward as nap of the week by Carter, while Batchelor took the opposite view.
There was no shortage of differing opinions across the panel, with a few of the host’s selections also coming under scrutiny, adding to the humour and keeping the atmosphere light.
A possible new career path…
There was also some light-hearted discussion around getting Daryl into the saddle to gain a different perspective on racing.
With Mattie offering to take charge of training, there was plenty of confidence in the idea – although whether it translates into ability remains to be seen. It’s certainly one to keep an eye on.
Raffle, prizes, style & what’s next
The raffle was a great success on the night, with a range of prizes generously donated by local businesses, including Chichester Harbour Gin, Laura Jeanne Clothing, and Hannah Fowler Art — all helping to boost the total raised.
Guests also heard from Matt at Black Gold Made to Measure, who shared an insight into race-day style, showcasing premium fabrics and bespoke tailoring ahead of the festival season.
Most importantly, the evening raised vital funds for the Injured Jockeys Fund, which supports jockeys past and present who have suffered serious injury, providing medical care, rehabilitation, and financial assistance across the racing community.
With such a strong turnout and a great atmosphere throughout, the night has laid the foundations for more events to come.
A big thank you to everyone who attended, supported, and contributed to making the evening such a success.
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