My week: Bill Esdaile
The marketing manager of Sporting Index enjoys entertaining and betting at Cheltenham
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Jump in the car and drive to Cheltenham. About 10 miles before reaching my destination it occurs to me that I've left my suit behind. What a nightmare. It's too far to go back so I'll have to improvise with a shirt and jumper. I walk round the track. Sporting Index has three boxes in which we'll entertain various guests so I make sure they're all up to scratch.
Tuesday
Andrew Thornton, the jockey, is going to be speaking in our boxes every day this week, offering the guests betting tips. But today he takes a crashing fall from Glass in Tyne. On TV it says he's broken his pelvis. I panic as he's booked all week. Just as I'm arranging to send flowers, I'm told he's fine and the TV reporter got it wrong. He'll be riding Sir Rembrandt in the Gold Cup which he predicts will be in the first three. Encounter a box hopper. These are individuals who slink into boxes uninvited pretending to be a friend of a friend and consume the food and champagne. After rumbling him, I let him finish his drink before sending him on his way. Undeterred, he sneaks into the neighbouring box.
Wednesday
A fantastic day's betting. I back four winners today, including Newmill, the winner of today's big race. It's a huge win. I won't even tell my wife how much but she'll be getting a cashmere jumper out of it. The rest of today is a blur. Enjoy a fabulous evening at a restaurant called Five North Street in Winchcombe. Celebrate long and hard before retiring to the rented cottage where I'm staying, about three miles from the course.
Thursday
Fantastic guests pop in all day, including Zara and Peter Phillips - Zara is with Mike Tindall. Also ex-Manchester City manager Peter Reid, Nick Mullins the rugby commentator and Kate Williams from Five Live. The traffic is so bad that it takes me 50 minutes to leave the course after the last race. Drive back to Hampshire to my family. I'm in trouble for leaving my wife with our three-week-old baby, but I had to go. It's my job.
Friday
Try to keep one eye on the racing while at work. I'm always wary of pickpockets at the races. Hear that the bookie Freddie Williams was robbed leaving the track last night. His car was hijacked and tens of thousands stolen. My bets have all gone downhill since my success. I backed Beef or Salmon because I met the trainer recently who convinced me he would win the Gold Cup today, but he's still running 45 minutes after the race has finished.
Interview by Lesley Wright
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