Reaching for the Moon

     Moon Racer on the Gallops (nearside)

Today starts the Olympics of horse racing, it is of course the Cheltenham Festival - four days of top class racing.  There is also a jumps card at Sedgefield plus two flat at Southwell and Wolverhampton.  Cheltenham have over £1 million in prize money up for grabs, Wolverhampton have £30,000!  Let's run through the runners, David has four today at Prestbury Park.  Un Temps Pour Tout runs in the 2.50pm the Ultima Chase over 3m1f carrying top weight.  He is a 10/1 chance in the paper and they go 7/1 the field.  He won this race in 2016 but runs off a seven pond higher mark this afternoon.  His recent runs have been slightly disappointing but he does seem a better horse in the spring so fingers crossed he can run well again.  Vintage Clouds with only 10st 5lb and priced at 25/1 could have an each way chance.  

Moon Racer runs in the Champion hurdle at 3.30pm.  He is still a novice but it has been done before.  He is on the upgrade and is a 10/1 chance in the betting.  I personally think it is a big ask but I know David thinks he is very special.  The New One looks a big price to me at 12/1.  Champers On Ice and What A Moment run in the 4.50pm amateur riders National Hunt chase over four miles.  I think some of these riders could be more tired than their horses by the end of the race!  The drying ground will help What A Moment as his win came on good ground and he did win at this track under today's jockey Richard Harding back in November.  He is a big price but I wouldn't be surprised to see him run better than his odds.  I thought Champers On Ice could be David's best chance of a winner today.  He looks like he will love the step up in trip and has a decent amateur (who rode Vieux Lion Rouge in this race last year) on board.  My Henderson man thinks they have a great chance in this race with Beware the Bear.

I read part of a book last night called Racing Rogues.  It is all about scams, scandals and gambles of horse racing in South Wales.  What I did not like about it is the fact I seem to know so many of the people mentioned in the book!  It is a good read and that is from someone who does not read a lot of books!

I wonder which Leicester team will turn up tonight when they play Seville?!  At 23/10 I think they could be of interest.

I went to a four star hotel and all the rooms were full of petrol!  Have a great day and enjoy all the action from Cheltenham everybody!