Saturday 18th March, 2023

Off to Uttoxeter today to saddle Fine Theatre (pictured) in the handicap chase at 4.10pm.  It will be great to get him back on the track having had a fair few niggles in the past.  He will wear cheek pieces and a tongue strap and we were hoping for not quite so soft ground but let’s hope he shows his talent with Ciaran Gethings booked to ride.

Tomorrow at Chepstow, Iron horse runs in the handicap chase at 4.25pm with Tom Bellamy onboard.  We are going back over fences which hopefully will suit and with the testing ground hopefully he can show similar form over fences as he has done over hurdles and be competitive for the Somedays Here Partnership.  We are delighted to welcome part-owner/breeder Karen Anderson who has made the journey from the US to go racing.

On Monday Elfride is declared at Taunton in the three mile mares only handicap hurdle run at 2.45pm with Finn Lambert onboard.  Once again she will wear a tongue tie and hopefully the step up in trip will suit her, although she may want a more galloping track to be seen at her best.  She is certainly handicapped to be competitive and has the ability to win races for her patient owners.

A wonderful Festival meeting at Cheltenham with so many highlights but yesterday’s Gold Cup was a thriller and a treasure combined.  The winner is everything you look for in a Gold Cup horse, travelling with ease, jumping with fluency, showing both speed and stamina to win the blue riband in style.  Bravemansgame put up a memorable performance in defeat and capped a very satisfactory meeting for both the Brits and the Irish.

Although crowds were down due to train strikes and the cost of living crisis, one felt sorry for those that were not there and as long as beautiful, fit and exemplary trained animals run and jump with enthusiasm, around a course that epitomises the beauty of the British countryside, the sport of jump racing will survive for many years.  Hopefully the only drug in the grounds this year was adrenaline.