CHELTENHAM “In My Life”

Good morning all and I hope you are back to normal after a wonderful festival.

“In my life” I have been fortunate to have had a couple of trips to CHELTENHAM and the vibe and performances this year appeared exceptional.
It was hugely diminished by the 4 Racing team again who appear hell bent on playing pop music over anything that resembles what the punters might prefer.
We have a thread running on “All You Wanted to Know About 4 Racing” with 132 comments and 5712 views at the time of this post.
It has yet to have a positive input, in fact if we also include Sporting Post the ONLY slightly favourable comment I have found is one from Justin Snaith, I can only assume that he was viewing Gallop TV and may have got confused.

However getting back to the positives of the festival.
We were treated to some exceptional performances and plenty of winning favs 🖐
As expected the Irish eventually dominated but only on the last day. A party of note took place at the track. Mullins and Townend won the trainer and jockey awards.
The ride and performance of the week must to go to Rachael and A Plus Tard for one of the most breathtaking Cup wins we will ever witness.

“In My Life” there will be no more festival visits but can you imagine the possibility of next year’s Champion Hurdle with Honeysuckle vs Constitution Hill and the Chase with Energumene, Shishkin and Galopin Des Champs, not to mention A Plus Tard and Rachael back to defend their crown.

We also have the Grand National to end the jump season and Snow Leopardess and Delta Work could add to the excitement on Sunday 10th of April.
The National is actually run during the Flat season and I can’t wait to watch Inspiral in the 1000 gns.

We also have the cards/fields for Dubai World Cup on the site and we hopefully will be able to listen to Ali Cohen call home “Life Is Good” in the big race on Sat March 26th.

We can only hope 4Racing can bring some IT/Racing people on board and give the punters a better show going forward.

I am aware that we continue to be in a state of disaster/emergency with our government. Masks remain a priority but our thoughts and prayers are with the citizens of Ukraine.🙏 where there is real tragedy and suffering.

I understand that Hong Kong etc do take more turnover than Cheltenham on our local tote, however this is not a reason to have an amateur approach to the entire production process.

I just got back home yesterday in time to see the 5th Race and Pat Mullins ride on Billway.
From the last fence I gave him no chance.

I have been on kids party duty today sorry for delay.

Okay, perhaps not a Cheltenham thread, but I have friends that have a restaurant, and I relieve them when the need time off.

With all this Corvid shit and families been unable to travel, last night we had a lady celebrating her 70th birthday, unbeknown to her, her son and Grandson(who she had never meet) had travelled from the UK to surprise her,
the pure unbridled joy that this lady exhibited was something to behold, with the rest of the patrons ,getting up to
applaud was something special,

Cherish each and every moment with family and love ones, no matter how dark times may be.

Balls of steel for sure, you have to know what you are doing

That was worth a watch over hurdles can you imagine a chase 🤔

Brave people

We might not have to wait ?


Racing Post


Michael Buckley has revealed superstar novice Constitution Hill will likely stay over hurdles next season and is tempted to do "something crazy" and take on dual Champion Hurdle heroine Honeysuckle as early as next month at Punchestown.

The leading owner said the "bold" plan of having a crack at the Paddy Power Champion Hurdle on April 29 would be considered if the runaway Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner is in particularly good order in the coming weeks.

The Nicky Henderson-trained five-year-old swaggered 22 lengths clear of stablemate Jonbon in the festival opener on Tuesday in a time considerably quicker than Honeysuckle's success two hours later, igniting hopes the pair will clash in the 2023 Champion Hurdle.

History-making phenomenon Honeysuckle is set to stay in training for one final campaign next season – raising the possibility of a climactic conclusion to her career in the 2023 Champion Hurdle against Constitution Hill.

Rachael Blackmore's trusted ally would join an elite group if she were to win a third Champion Hurdle next March and is priced up at 7-2 to emulate Hatton's Grace, Sir Ken, Persian War, See You Then and Istabraq. Constitution Hill, runaway winner of the Supreme Novices' Hurdle last week, is the general 2-1 favourite to end her reign.