students, haddock or lasagne

Game of bulldog anyone?

By Dave Ord

Just arrived at the racecourse 24 hours ahead of the Festival and very nearly turned back.

As soon as I entered the track my attention was caught by what seemed to be a group of around 40 students enjoying a game of bulldog in the winners' enclosure.

It seems as though they will be working as stewards this week (and hopefully more professionally than the one who greeted me today by asking if I was the ice cream van driver).

Their task - and they have chosen to accept it - is to prevent a flood of people joining in the celebrations after races.

They may well succeed but my advice is to strengthen the left flank. Three short lads were together there - looking like the cast of Lord Of The Rings - and it would only take a mere shoulder barge to penetrate the thin orange line.

As a group they have my sympathy. I am not a violent man although I am proud to say I do possess a one fight, one win record to date.

I am less proud to admit that my opponent's nicknames were 'Fairy' and 'Pear Head' and he gave away around five stone and three feet in height to his conqueror.

One or two judges actually said he edged the encounter, sparked by a Bunsen burner dispute, but they clearly had not seen my snaking jab as the points-winning machine it was.

Anyway, back to the 2007 Festival, and the Prestbury Park track is already buzzing.

There are hundreds of people here putting in last-minute preparations. Pam's Pantry is doing a roaring trade and I am sure when my doppelganger the ice cream man returns from wherever he is, the 99s will fly off the shelves.

It is sunny but you need a coat - well I do as I have a weak chest - and all is set fair.

I am going now to find my accommodation in Bishops Cleeve. It's a three-storey bungalow apparently - a house elsewhere in the country.

A few pints of Guinness, well I am on the Festival Awards panel after all, and a light evening meal are on the agenda followed by a few hours study.

Detroit City or Hardy Eustace? Fair Along or My Way De Solzen? Haddock or Lasagne.

I'll be back at ten in the morning with the answers...