And dusted. History. And books…

Another fabulous Cheltenham Festival played out in the greatest sporting amphitheatre…

Weather of all sorts. Overcoat collars turned up against icy squalls. Bright spring sunshine. Rainbows over Cleeve Hills. Gusting winds. Proper downpours…

After the negativity of a couple of Festivals ago when many said they would not return, lessons were learned and measures taken. Crowds up through the past four days. There will of course have been a blip or two along the way, and not everybody’s experience will have been seamless. But overall, it seemed to go pretty well…

Willie and Paul Townend imperious. “Good horses make good Trainers.” “Good horses make good Jockeys.” But these guys are beyond comparison. Record breakers on a daily basis. What fun it must be…

Jonjo. TLNCK. Jamie Snowden and Ben Pauling. The Skeltons. All doing their bit for the Home Team who have come a long way from the Irish “green wash” of a couple of years ago. It must grate them and others that some of the biggest UK based owners have their horses trained in Ireland, but maybe those scales will begin to swing a little…

Sadly, three equine fatalities will grab a wrong and easy headline in some outlets. So sad for all involved, and the news of Envoi Allen’s passing struck low and hard. It is hard to write the words without sounding trite and insensitive, but these fine athletes are bred for this job, and nurtured and so loved and adored along the way. We all know the agonies of the empty stable in the cold light of the next day’s dawn…

Cleeve Hill. Guinness. Great friends. The tapestry. Crafted placepots ripped up. Hope as chosen ones swing hard on the bridle at the top of the hill. The jumping errors that change the whole dynamic. The roars that greet a favourite’s charge up that famous hill. The eerie silence as the unconsidered gallops clear. The heat of battle, and words exchanged. Guinness. The trot back for the victors with whip raised high. That music as the Winners Enclosure comes into view. Bookies shouting the odds and shuffling notes. The vanquished with heads bowed in muted post race chat, dreams shattered and gone for another year – maybe forever….

A lucky sweepstake win that required luck and no skill, a fabulous personal bonus…

Always a touch of melancholy as Cleeve Hill is crested for the final time. Memories fading behind, and our long flat road ahead. Water and bridges and plenty of both before we meet again in 360 days. Clancy away and gone. The Games are over…

On we go…

The Cheltenham Gold Cup…

I was there for Dawn Run, Desert Orchid, Best Mate, Kauto Star, The Thinker in the snow, Denman, Long Run, Bobs Worth, Galopin des Champs and many more…

A day that has defined lives and careers…

A fabulously open renewal today. The Jukebox Man for “Our ‘Arry” atop the market. My small flick at 25/1 in the autumn looks all right as a chill dawn breaks over the Cotswolds. At the same time, I backed Grey Dawning at 14/1 – he is freely available at that price and a bit more..

Swings and roundabouts..

Windswept and a little wild and woolly yesterday afternoon. Tumbling hats across balconies with nobody underneath them. Umbrellas turned inside out. The vast tented village looking as if it might launch into the skies and head off to Wales…

Wonderful action on the track. Viewed mainly from the finest of boxes. Spoilt for sure…

So thrilled for TLNCK and Claire Bailey whose White Noise stormed home in the first. Fantastic for Mat Nicholls, newly on the licence with Kim, and for their long standing supporters John and Penny Perriss. A fine result – and just a hint of mist in the old boy’s eyes as we rugby tackled him in the paddock post race…

Kabral Du Mathan looked all over the Stayers winner – but the petrol gauge from full to empty in two strides. He’s a proper horse though…

Supremely West landing a monster gamble for the extremely shrewd Skelton team…

On to today. A real feeling of positivity around the place this week despite our long standing governance and “vested” issues, and the farcical false starts that must be addressed. We have a fantastic sport and a superb product – please please please can we march forwards together for the greater good, and marginalise the vindictive and corrosive self interests. PLEASE !!!

Today’s stabs. Not bad “stabbing” so far. Better than plenty anyway…

The Triumph – or the “Willie Mullins Triumph”. He wins it – but with what ? He might actually win everything today. Even The Foxhunters even though he does not have a runner…?! A stab at Proactif….

Murcia, Secret Squirrel, Absurde – three in the 2nd ?? Why not…??

Panic Attack in the 3rd, Mondoui’boy and Spinningayard in the next, stick with my two in the Gold Cup and throw a pound at Gold Tweet each way at a million to one, Wonderwall and WrappedupinMay in the Foxhunters, East India Express and Wendrock to see us off the place in the “lucky last”…

What a week. Great friends. Fantastic sport. Some new owners on board for the Flat season ahead. The Games are coming to an end…

These are The Days…

Half way. But still plenty to look forward to…

Yesterday’s Champion Chase. Majborough doing Majborough things and trying to take a couple of fences with him. He has some engine, but some flaws too…

A 66/1 winner for Venetia. A Champion Flat jockey riding a superb race to land the Bumper. Il Etait Temps all class. As ever, plenty of “what ifs” and “whatevers” along the way. A rocky road to ride on occasion…

Dry and sunny and bright and fresh. A grey dawn. Grey Dawning in the Gold Cup tomorrow…??

As Clancy said as we crested Cleeve Hill yesterday –

“Mark Walsh and Paul Townend ride these horses every day. They have every inside line from the stables. Yet they don’t always get it right when they have two or three to pick from in one race. Man, what chance do we have of picking the right one in 24 runner races…??”

Good point. Well made…

Onto today. The bookies are happier over their half time oranges than the punters…

Plenty of short priced favourites today, and there will be trebles and accumulators and Yankees being crafted right now. A fightback for the punters – or fuller satchels for the old enemy…??

Here goes with the stabs….

Bambino Fever in the first – should win, but I can leave her alone at Evens. Carrigmoornaspruce is not easy to type, a few quid each way on him…

The second is impossible. Paul Nicholls and Gordon Elliott’s bullets have fired wide and wrong so far. Regent’s Stroll or Wingmen to put that right…

Wodhooh (short price – but she wins), I’m with Kabral Du Mathan in the Stayers (if he stays), Fact To File a class apart – but could Jonbon raise the roof and bring more Nicky tears ?? Supremely West and Electric Mason, and Jeriko Du Reponet and Waterford Whispers in the “lucky last”…

We will get today done – and then roll the wagon onto Gold Cup day. Weather and wind and rain around today. A good day to be in a high box – but any day in a high box is pretty good…

Lossiemouth. The galloping grey mare. Lighting up Day One. Willie Mullins proving yet again that the moniker of “genius” sits well on his shoulders…

Brighterdaysahead and The New Lion will have their big days again for sure – but yesterday they were left toiling in the wake of a flying machine. Battling over the scraps as the victor sailed clear…

Kopek Des Bordes beaten, but still the horse of the day that I would like to steal away from Closutton at dead of night. They would notice I guess. And it would be embarrassing to have to explain why his head was looking out of a stable door at Epsom Downs as opposed to green Irish grass…

Johnnywho for Jonjo and Madara for the Skeltons meaning that there is bread on the table this morning. Just – and not gilded by fine pates or caviar…

We go again today. And here are the “stabs” for you to ignore…

The Turners. The first race. Jeez – tough call. Love Ballyfad and King Rasko Grey and Sober (inappropriate Festival runner…??!!). Swerving the favourite No Drama This End. Too tough – but if a gun appears at the head, Sober it is…

Romeo Collio to win and Wendigo each way in the second..

Puturhandstogether (each way), Favori De Champdou wins the Cross Country, Majborough a potential star in the Champion Chase but he can take a fence or two with him on the way around so Il Etait Temps each way, Be Aware and Inthepocket, Love Sign d’Aunou and Bass Hunter in the concluding Bumper…

There we go. Route to the poor house secured if you follow me in on that lot…

Sun shone yesterday. Freshness in the breeze. More of the same right now..

Let those Games continue…

Hoping and waiting for news of an equine flight out of the Middle East. Everything crossed. Time to get those boys home…

“All my troubles seemed so far away….”

Spring sunshine. Birdsong. Skylarks rising….

Today. Entirely different. Standing on the cusp. Some might say the edge. “The edge” that is the dawn of four unrivalled days. Here we go again. How the hell did that spin around so fast ? Days and months have raged by, winners and losers, water under very many bridges, The Wokingham and other high days, the low blows too….

Sport, Bloody Hell…

The Monday of Cheltenham week. And so Clancy and I walked the course. Soft, Heavy in places. But they don’t race at Goodwood for several weeks, and spring growth and sunshine will work away. Fun to be striding across that gilded downland that has provided some of the greatest days, and memories that even the desperate worries and fears of black pre-dawn hours can never diminish…

The drive. Past Cotswold stone cottages. And mighty walls. And cut and lay hedges. Pheasant and partridge skidding out of our way, and launching high above stunning valleys, hills and rivers…

Drop down off Cleeve Hill, and the first view of “The Field of The Cloth Of Gold….”

A tented village to house several armies. Who will all be going into battle, side by side, over the coming days…

The trickle of Guinness on cold hands. Old friends sighted. Hats and caps doffed. Smiles exchanged, and tips and opinions too. Let The Games Commence…

Dive in. Adopt the brace position. Pace yourself GB !! Yeah, right….

Champion Hurdle day. Several fascinating conundrums. A Supreme Hurdle to kick start, and one that looks as if it could be one for the ages. Mighty Park the talking horse but drifting like a barge in the betting. Before being smashed up late on ? A plot ? Lossiemouth, Brighterdaysahead, The New Lion, Golden Ace to win the Champion – or a left field boil over like last year ?? To my mind, The New Lion carries the most potential, so he will do for me…

Kopek Des Bordes over Lulamba my view of the Arkle. And then the devilishly hard handicaps – stabs at Ammes in the 2.40, Johnnywho in the 3.20, Madara in the 4.40, my mate Becky’s Newton Tornado in the “lucky last….”

Man, exhausted just writing the words. And now we have to live the day…

From Riyadh…

After an anxious few hours sitting on a Saudi Arabian runway, Harriet and Ben’s flight has just landed. Behind schedule – but so what in the bigger scheme…

Typically, both were loath to leave the horses behind. But the team on the ground, both the local grooms and friends rallying, will ensure that all is well. Hoping very much that there will be a flight out by the end of the week…

Cheltenham and the fanfare and the roar all seem a little inconsequential when set against the troubling times elsewhere. A huge relief to get our guys back on home soil, and it would be fabulous if four horses’ heads are looking over Downs House stable doors by this time next week…

Sandown on Saturday. After a dry week and watering, the rains came on Friday. “Soft, Heavy in places” – described as “bottomless” by plenty. Not quite what we expected at declaration time on Thursday, and certainly not playing to Gooloogong’s strengths…

Having said that, he ran a mighty mighty race. And running down to the second last in second place, there was a moment…

It was not to be – but he jumped and travelled like the good horse we know him to be, and there are some decent options ahead under both codes. Aintree, The Chester Cup consolation race, a valuable Fakenham Handicap Hurdle, Auteuil, Punchestown, Nashville….

Barney with a fabulous gathering of friends on track, Mark and Lavinia Sherwood and Francis Reid, Clancy – a happy day at the races…

Tallulah in Rome to watch Italy make rugby history. Scotland stunning the French. Some 6 Nations this has been…

India World T20 Champions. George Russell fastest in Australia. QPR disappearing down the table…

Just over 24 hours to “The Roar”…

Let The Games Commence….

Italian celebrations – thoroughly deserved…

And Safe Home….

Hopefully…

A bus headed away from the Quarantine Barns. Through the desert’s dark night to Riyadh. A flight home for Ben and Harriet. Home on Monday. Hopefully…

Away and safe and far away from the unsettling and troubling night long thuds of missiles and interceptors. And no more wailing sirens and pinging telephone alerts…

Not what they signed up for. And as Clancy said in the car yesterday after we had spoken to Harriet in Bahrain, “Man, they don’t teach you this stuff in those training modules….”

A few more nervous hours to navigate – and then they will be back amongst the team…

Our four horses will not be on the same bus – but hoping very much that their safe passage home will not be far behind. Huge credit to great friends and allies in The Kingdom who have been fabulously helpful as stress levels have been monitored and managed. And great to talk yesterday to our fabulous past Assistant Pat Murphy who will kindly keep an eye on our charges once the bus pulls out to Riyadh….

Thank you, again, for your ongoing messages of concern and support. Not a fun passage of play. Harriet and Ben’s stoicism and resilience has been unbelievably impressive. Counting the hours until we get them home safe….

“Chocolate Cakes and Rosettes….”

Is what we run around for for much of the time. “Lemon Drizzle Cake and Fizzy Strawberry Cables.” Is what Clancy’s Sherminator picked up for winning impressively at Exeter yesterday. A cool young horse who is clearly progressive, and much for the team to look forward to…

It went well. United Airlines overnight from Washington on time. The M25 kind as we scuttled around it to Kempton in time to watch FIZZY BEAR (Sophie) and KENERGY (Jack Dace) gallop. The A303 to Exeter bearable. Guinness. Fun to catch up with Jonjo and TLNCK. Sherminator. “Man, that was cool.” The long way home in the rain with my American friend catching up on an hour or three of much needed sleep. Road trip…

Sandown today. The Imperial Cup. GOOLOOGONG (Tom Cannon). Massively competitive. But what do I expect, this is The Imperial Cup after all ?? We are a big price – here’s hoping we can outrun his odds….

Loved this horse. Fabulous to see his Owner Pam Deal on Tuesday at The Oxo Tower. Peter much missed…

Will hopefully go something like this….

A seamless route out of London to Heathrow Terminal 2…

“Man, What’s Happening….??”

United Airlines from Washington. Clancy in the house. Let The Games Commence…

Around the M25 to Kempton in time to watch a couple of gallopers under Sophie and Jack Dace…

Down the M3 and onto the A303. A quick pit stop with great friends. A change of clothes…

On to Exeter. SHERMINATOR for Clancy in the 3.10. Cool horse…

Exeter to Sussex. On a Friday night ?! Could take some doing….

That is how the “next few hours” will hopefully pan out. Hopefully…

A later night than planned just gone. The Turf Club Cheltenham dinner. A debrief glass with Barney Baker afterwards. The clock ticked on. The alarm went off far too soon after the head hit the pillow. Hey ho…?!

A good fun evening in Carlton House Terrace. Although the guy charged with eliciting the words of wisdom from Messrs Snowden, Waley-Cohen, George, Pope et al didn’t half drone on…

Apologies if you are reading this and you were there…..

Must dash. Planes landing. Horses to gallop. Roads to hit…

To a later date…

No real surprise that tonight and tomorrow’s Kings Cup meeting in Bahrain will not be taking place as planned…

And hoping very much that we can get our team home soon. There is movement and chat on flights out of the region, and here’s hoping that Harriet and Ben can be given some concrete news in the coming hours and days…

A very real scenario being that the horses will have to follow further down the line…

Speculation and hypothesis does not help in any way, and so we will wait for the official lines…

Perhaps racing here should be “rescheduled” once we have some considered and united governance in place. Sadly, we would be waiting for years…

Racecourses aligning themselves. Arena Racing and its owner the Reuben brothers and the head honcho Martin Cruddace v The Rest Of The World…

The Reuben brothers have decided that they would much prefer to watch Class 6 Handicaps than build thousands of homes across their Real Estate – or…..??

This is an excellent piece by Ed Grimshaw. It is quite long, but also very well informed, and pithily explains plenty. Worth a read if you have 5 minutes…

https://cuttingcomment.com/the-great-fracture-how-arc-became-the-fault-line-that-split-british-racing-in-two

If the medium that you read this on does not support the link above, just Google “Ed Grimshaw Cutting Comment”…..

LILLY LUX beaten just over a length into 4th last night at Kempton. She is gaining confidence, and I’m convinced that her best days lie ahead under both codes…

This time next week, those half time oranges will be out…

This time tomorrow, Clancy will be in the house. “Man, What’s Happening….??”

What’s happening is that I’m driving the short trip to Exeter tomorrow to watch the Riverdee owned Sherminator. Just down the road…

Stayers Hurdle next Thursday. This was a good horse – bred by my old mate Bobby McAlpine…

That effectively broke days ago…

The BHA is without a leader. The “heavyweight” Lord Allen will not be throwing that weight around in racing’s ever muddier waters. That particular unedifying passage of play is done and dusted…

I am sure that he took on the role with the best of intentions. But he got more than a couple of things in the wrong order, and then found out that his ultimatums and the intransigence of others were never going to make for happy bedfellows…

In any other sport or business or jurisdiction, the hopelessly flawed governance and judgement that we are subjected to would be considered entirely unacceptable. Because that is what it is – entirely unacceptable….

Where to now ? Who will stick the hand up to take on this particular poisoned chalice ? I doubt that the queue will stretch around many blocks…

And several of the major racecourses and racecourse ownership entities coming up with their own ultimatums and timeframes. Understandable – but the likelihood of further schisms as the “vested” pull hither and thither…

I was at a London pre-Cheltenham Dinner last night – and the collective eye rolling from several wiser folk than me told a tale. We lurch from muddle to muddle, a rudderless ship tossed about on stormy high seas…

Where to now ? Literally no idea. Although I guess we have the Festival to take the mind away from dull governance issues…

The Carbine Club dinner in the OXO Tower. A Cheltenham dinner, but more than a smattering of Flat trainers. I won the panel’s tipping competition last year – by coming up with an odds on second in one of the four Championship races…..??!!

Here’s hoping that Nick Luck, Richard Phillips, Richard Hoiles and I have made a better fist of it this time…

My four – THE NEW LION, IL ÉTAIT TEMPS, KABRAL DU MATHAN and GREY DAWNING…

Richard Hoiles’ “phantom call” calling The Jukebox Man home in the Gold Cup…

All about to happen. All to play for…

A runner later. LILLY LUX (Jack Mitchell) to Kempton. If she settles better…

Elsewhere, racing this week in Doha has been cancelled. We will see what the call is in Bahrain…

A great Champion Chase….