Ben Winstanley

Senior Editor @squaremile_com & Editor of HEDGE. Restaurants • Cocktails • Travel • Golf • Racing • F1

[Ben Winstanley @ben_winstanley]

This time tomorrow, the first tee times will be well underway at #TheOpenChampionship. If you’re interested to find out what it’s *really* like to play Royal Portrush, I’ve written about my own experience here. Spoiler alert: it’s pretty damn special.

https://t.co/EADMEU8GSA

[Ben Winstanley @ben_winstanley]

@YeahClickClack @westsussexgolf Awesome pictures. I love the rhythm of Pulborough: 4/5/6 and then 13/14/15/16 two utterly majestic sequences of golf. Proper, proper course.

[Ben Winstanley @ben_winstanley]

@DizzyJB @Witt_wanderers @sirtobycarvery @fityoungjoel Oh god yeah, the race has massively changed since the new “safety” measures have been introduced, but I consider it a new challenge rather than an abortion. There’s still merit in the GN. I’m just not going to complain about the wrong JP horse winning. There was plenty of drama.

[Ben Winstanley @ben_winstanley]

@Witt_wanderers @DizzyJB @sirtobycarvery @fityoungjoel If that’s the most boring thing you’ve seen, you’ve witnessed some chaos! I didn’t win a bean from a bunch of antepost bets in the GN, but I Am Maximus has made a little bit of history. Diminishing that achievement because you didn’t bet the owner/trainer combo is just sad.

[Ben Winstanley @ben_winstanley]

@DarranPearce I winced a little bit at the Canal Turn, but he found his stride again without breaking a sweat. Some hunter chaser and some training performance.

[Ben Winstanley @ben_winstanley]

@RTR_Liam All good. I don’t disagree with your sentiments, I just think you’d have been better sticking up something positive in the first place and being the point of difference to the (far too numerous) smart alecks on here. Go well at Aintree, hope you find a few winners.

[Ben Winstanley @ben_winstanley]

@RTR_Liam Sure, I could. But no one is under obligation to do so — most don’t. And if your point is that the work yourself and Darren put in on YouTube and blogs is a thankless task, it’s a fair one. But you could have just said that. And maybe given him a retweet.

[Ben Winstanley @ben_winstanley]

@RTR_Liam I’m… not sure either of these tweets is doing what you think it’s doing. If you want to outwardly compliment Darren for his efforts (and finding the winner at Cheltenham), you can still do so. But calling something the ‘right’ way to tweet just makes you sanctimonious.

[Ben Winstanley @ben_winstanley]

@RTR_Liam I think you’ve ended up looking a bit daft with this whole ‘gotcha’ situation. The “be the change you want to see” option was there for you - and still is, by the way! Darren’s posts are a great read and if you feel strongly enough, you could just tweet something sincere.

[Ben Winstanley @ben_winstanley]

@RTR_Liam Given the response you received to your previous post, I’d suggest this stunt fell on stony ground. X can be a negative place and you added to the noise, then complained people were negative to you. If your intent was to lift him up, you could have retweeted or shared the link.

[Ben Winstanley @ben_winstanley]

@RTR_Liam Liam, what are we doing here? Racing has enough churlish idiots punching down... I don’t see what you’re getting at with this justification or the previous flippant post. Hunter chases are his game, one of which few devote as much time on here. It’s harmless.

[Ben Winstanley @ben_winstanley]

@LTRacing_ It’s such a shame. Proper lowest common denominator stuff, with no real winner. Imagine if the same individuals commissioned journos to seek out the endlessly wonderful stories each year at the Festival?

[Ben Winstanley @ben_winstanley]

@roryfitz15 Thursday was one of the nicest experiences I’ve had in ten years. Arkle Bar was navigable, could get a spot on the rail for every race, crowd was class. Plenty treated my Mum and Dad with respect and kindness. Not sure if we got lucky or it was just a smaller crowd.

[Ben Winstanley @ben_winstanley]

@ObserverUK Tired old tropes trotted out for the amusement of the few. This is an easy pitch to a lazy editor, but to what end? This kind of punching-down cynicism where the aim is to mock, vilify and deride serves no one. There are countless heartwarming stories each Festival. Do better.

[Ben Winstanley @ben_winstanley]

@MichaelTK1973 Top man, Michael. I followed you in on the strength of these trends. Hopefully the plaudits justify the time you’ve put in over the last few weeks. 🙏🏻

[Ben Winstanley @ben_winstanley]

@richie3068 @TakeAPullpod @dec_car @paddypower @Handy_Andy96 @Lukekeena1 That’s the one! 🤣

[Ben Winstanley @ben_winstanley]

@Studaawg It’s curious how much negative discourse Ino has created. There seems to be an assumption that Cromwell has done something wrong, but surely if he wins it’s an amazing training performance? The old adage “they never come back” after a GC win…

[Ben Winstanley @ben_winstanley]

@LinksGems @Top100Rick @ButlerCabin1894 It’s certainly tougher on the caddies than the player, but I’d say it probably depends on the heat/humidity. My hands were so wet on the 8th I was worried I’d chuck my driver into the ocean! Something about Caribbean golf feels like you should get a free pass for the buggies.