Day 1 is Here!

Remastered & Iceo Madrik Run at Cheltenham Today

The Cheltenham Festival Day One is here, bring on the famous roar at 1.30pm as the horses jump away for the opening Supreme novices hurdle.  We have two runners today in the Ultima handicap chase at 2.50pm, Remastered and Iceo Madrik.  David Noonan is on board Remastered and the recent rain will have helped his chances.  He has had a terrific season bar last time at Sandown where I think it can be put down to a run too bad to be true.  No obvious reason came to light for the poor performance but all we can say is that he has been to Sandown twice in his career and pulled up twice.  I am not sure we will be rushing back there anytime soon!

He is about a 20/1 chance and I would not put anyone off backing him each way.  He wears first time cheek pieces this afternoon and hopefully with a bit of luck he will not be too far away.  The favourite is the Lucinda Russell trained Corach Rambler who is going for back to back wins in this race.  Gericault Roque finished second to him in the race last year and there is not a lot between Remastered and Gericault, so if Corach Rambler is involved in the finish hopefully we will be again to!  Our jockey is also in good form having ridden a double at Taunton yesterday and in the process bringing up his 200th career success so many congratulations to him.

We also run Iceo Madrick in the Ultima and Jack Tudor rides.  This is his British and stable debut and it is hard to know exactly what to expect.  He has some very good French form to his name and has been rated as high as 153 in the past contesting a lot of top races.  He has settled in well to English life and we are very pleased with him at home.  It would not be a surprise for him to outrun his odds and we will certainly learn a lot more about him today.  Whatever happens he could be a horse to follow in the future.

Yesterday at Taunton Sidi Ismael ran a cracker to be second in the feature chase on the card.  It is always gutting to lose out in a photo finish but our gelding was somewhere back to near his best so you cannot complain…much!  Meanwhile at Plumpton Paricolor did not run his race and could do with a bit more help from the handicapper.

I am lucky enough to be heading to Cheltenham today for a day out.  I enjoy going on the Tuesday with the buzz and atmosphere of everyone looking forward to the week ahead.  It was a very early start to get a lot of the work done and it will be a late finish by the time I get back but I am sure it will all be worth it!  With all the technology these days I shall be able to do a few things in the car on the way up while I am very much looking forward to having a traditional Guinness in the Guinness village before the first race!  I am also hoping for a fairy tale ending to Honeysuckle’s career and her winning the mare’s hurdle.  I am sure it will be an emotional send off if she is able to do it.  I also can’t wait to see Constitution Hill in the Champion hurdle.  He will face his sternest test to date against State Man but I think he will be impressive in winning again.

Anyway, I hope you all enjoy watching the first day of the Festival action from wherever that may be, please don’t ring the office as I won’t be there!  Your call will of course be answered however as Jan is covering the phones and there to help if you need!

My grandad always says, “When one door closes another one opens”.  Lovely man but a terrible cabinet maker!  Enjoy day 1 of the Festival everyone!