“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…
