Day Two

                The Marquee Panel

Today we have four meetings, jumps cards at Cheltenham and Huntingdon plus flat cards at Southwell and Wolverhampton.  David has one runner at the Festival today, Know the Score in the 5.30pm Champion Bumper.  He won an Irish point to point and a bumper at Towcester on his Pond House debut.  This win was on soft going and I can't believe he is a 20/1 chance in the Racing Post.  It is a very competitive race as you would expect and the 24 runners have won 36 runners between them.  Our runner will love the ground and stay well and 20/1 looks a big price to me.  All the times were very slow yesterday and some of the older jockeys said it was the slowest ground they had seen in 25 yeards.

The most impressive winner of the day was Footpad and it was Ruby Walsh at his very best.  David's two runners Ramses De Teille and Eamon An Cnoic both ran okay.  I think as soon as David drops Eamon An Cnoic back in distance he looks a sure winner and it is one for your notebook.  He jumped and travelled superbly before not quite staying up the Cheltenham hill.  Ramses De Teille also ran a nice race but could just not get near to the leaders coming from the back of the field.  I thought Lizzie Kelly rode a great race on Coo Star Sivola.  She looked so happy and was nearly crying afterwards.  That is what winning at the Festival does to you.

It was good in a marquee yesterday.  There were plenty of old faces and some just getting older!  Matt Chapman popped in to give everyone a few tips.  Unfortunately the microphone broke,  mind you Matt does not need a microphone he is so noisy anyway!  He gave me some stick but I did tell him he was on thin ice! By the way, I never told you how the microphone got broken...Sean Tracey!!  You put anything in a Scotsman's hands and they break it...only joking!  It was good to see Ron Atkins in the marquee.  He was one of MCP's first jockey's and he used to ride with a big RA on his hat.  He was a very good jockey and we had a nice chat about the old days.  I am amazed we ever got through them all without ever being locked up that is all I can say!

David will be watching Barcelona versus Chelsea tonight as he is a Chelsea fan.  Chelsea are 7/1 and I would rather find a Cheltenham winner to back!  My wife left me because of my obsession with Africa.  Kenya believe that!