Cheltenham Antics

On Tuesday we had a full car when we set off to Cheltenham, these four days in March are the highlight of the year. On the first day Willie Mullin's horses were extraordinary which they continued to be right through the week. We ran Sureness in the Mares race and she had a nice run round, we were happy with her.

The new Champagne Bar at Cheltenham where they obviously don't like washing up!

 

We stopped at a pub on the way back from Cheltenham called the Green Dragon and that was our pit stop for the next three nights. On Wednesday morning we worked a few horses. Verano went very well as did Bridal Suite. We had another good day at the races and my brother-in-law insisted on staying all week!

 



 

AP's last winner at the Festival.

 

 

We schooled Verano and Gowanauthat on Thursday morning and then we set off to the races again in a very full car which Tom Swerling very kindly drove. Having watched a very good days racing again we had a pit stop in the Green Dragon and had some bad news that Katya's cat Oscar had been run over.

 

 

Gavin Sheehan winning on Cole Harden.

 

Friday we had another brilliant day, we had a full car and spent a lot of time in the Turf Club. I took a friend of mine down to the last fence for the Gold Cup and it was great for racing that Coneygree won as it is nice to know that a smaller yard can still win these Championship races. The whole week was a real eye opener as it seems that Willie Mullins has a tight hold over most of the Championship races probably for the next few years.

 

Katya and I enjoying Cheltenham.

 

On Saturday we worked a couple of horses of which Nimbus Gale worked well. Caroline and Mark left to go back to Edinburgh. Katya and myself went to Uttoxeter to watch Verano run. Gavin Sheehan rode him and he won really nicely. I told everyone at Cheltenham over the four days that if their betting went wrong their get out stake was Verano on Saturday and for once I was proved right! On the way back we picked up poor old Oscar who has lost his tail and looks like a shaved chicken.

 

Tony Holt collecting his trophy

Verano after his win.

 

We had a nice quiet lunch on Sunday with my daughter Tildie and a friend Riddles. On Monday I rode out two lots for the first time in a while. I went to Mike Ashley's funeral and saw a lot of people I haven't seen for a while. We ran two horses at Southwell, Attimo and Gowanauthat. Attimo finished fourth but he broke a blood vessel so I think his days are numbered. Gowanauthat I really did think was a certainty but he ran no race at all and I cant for the life of me think why. Having done numerous tests on him nothing has come out.

 

We don't have many runners until the weekend. We then have quite a few entries, Libeccio is in at Newbury and could take his chance if the top horse doesn't run. Seventh Sky is in a couple of races but we might wait till the following weekend. Native Explorer, No Bad News and Nimbus Gales could take their chances.