One is always fearful of coming across as boastful because, when it comes to picking winners, a pat on the back is only six inches from a kick in the arse. That said, Thursday did turn out much better than was expected. Thanks to GREY DAWNING and TEAHUPOO and SHAKEM UP 'ARRY and INOTHEWAYURTHINKING all... Continue Reading →
Cheltenham 2024 – Day 2
At the outset here an apology - I completely underestimated the very obvious top notch credentials of both Gaelic Warrior and Stateman and for that I apologise. That said, while the notion of a Cheltenham 'banker' is generally steered away from, if there was one particular steed whose appearance was anticipated with greatest enthusiasm it... Continue Reading →
Selections for Cheltenham 2023 – Day 4
1.30: LOSSIEMOUTH (PAUL TOWNEND/WILLIE MULLINS) 2.10: PIED PIPER - EW - (DAVY RUSSELL/GORDON ELLIOTT) 2.50: FAVORI DU CHAMPDOU - EW - (JORDAN GAINFORD/GORDON ELLIOTT) 3.30: GALLOPIN DES CHAMPS (PAUL TOWNEND/WILLIE MULLINS) Hopefully Gallopin Des Champs lets his jumping do the talking 4.10: CHRISS DREAM - EW - (MAXINE O'SULLIVAN (5)/HENRY DE BROMHEAD) 4.50: IMPERVIOUS (BRIAN... Continue Reading →
Selections for Cheltenham 2023 – Day 3
1.30: MIGHTY POTTER (DAVY RUSSELL/GORDON ELLIOTT) 2.10: GOOD TIME JONNY - EW - (LIAM MCKENNA (5)/TONY MARTIN) 2.50: JANIDIL - EW - (MARK WALSH/WILLIE MULLINS) 3.30: BLAZING KHAL (PHILIP BYRNES (5)/CHARLES BYRNES) 4.10: HAUT EN COULEURS - EW - (MICHAEL O'SULLIVAN (3)/WILLIE MULLINS) 4.50: FOXY GIRL - EW - (RACHAEL BLACKMORE/HENRY DE BROMHEAD) Henry De... Continue Reading →
The foreseen, the unexpected and the downright emotional
Less than 24 hours before the commencement of this year's Cheltenham Festival, this corner had no problem admitting that, in some ways, not a sh** was given about the action at Prestbury Park. Mitigating such misgivings, though, was the hope that the sound of the Cheltenham roar at the start of the first race would... Continue Reading →
Selections for Cheltenham 2023 – Day 2
1.30: GOOD LAND (MICHAEL O'SULLIVAN (3)/BARRY CONNELL) 2.10: THE REAL WHACKER - EW - (SAM TWISTON-DAVIES/PADDY NEVILLE) 2.50: HMS SEAHORSE - EW - (SEAN O'KEEFFE/PAUL NOLAN) Paul Nolan's HMS Seahorse brings decent course form to the table 3.30: ENERGUMENE (PAUL TOWNEND/WILLIE MULLINS) 4.10: GALVIN (DAVY RUSSELL/GORDON ELLIOTT) 4.50: EPSON DU HOUX - EW - (RACHAEL... Continue Reading →
Selections for Cheltenham Day 1 2023
1.30: MARINE NATIONALE (MICHAEL O'SULLIVAN/BARRY CONNELL) 2.10: EL FABIOLO (PAUL TOWNEND/WILLIE MULLINS) 2.50: THE BIG BREAKAWAY - EW - (BRENDAN POWELL/JOE TIZZARD) 3.30: VAUBAN - EW - (DANNY MULLINS/WILLIE MULLINS) 4.10: BRANDY LOVE (PAUL TOWNEND/WILLIE MULLINS) Brandy Love (seen here in the colours of former owner Claudio Grech) represents value in the Mares Hurdle 4.50:... Continue Reading →
Kennedy a major Festival doubt
Jack Kennedy has emerged as a serious doubt for this year's Cheltenham Festival having sustained a significant leg injury following a fall from Top Bandit in a novice chase at Naas on Sunday. Gordon Elliott trains Top Bandit and he said the jockey faces being sidelined for the "Foreseeable future" owing to what is by... Continue Reading →
Would You Like To Buy My Books?
Over the last couple of years I have written and published two books - "Heroics And Heartache" and " Rolling Down Memory Lane". Details about both and how you can purchase them are contained within. https://youtu.be/1xK7UuwtcJo
Jack De Bromhead – R. I. P.
For many of us, sport consumes and envelopes so much of our lives that it can be very easy, and dangerous, to lose sight of the fact that it is just that. Only Sport. The shot that looked over but was waved wide, the putt which circled the hole but lipped out or the punt... Continue Reading →