Festival Finale

 Thanksforthehelp runs at Cheltenham Today

While the long journey to Hexham didn’t quite pay off yesterday, hopefully we may have more luck with Jilaijone running at Fakenham.  He runs in the 4.25pm valuable handicap hurdle at 4.25pm and Jack Tudor rides.  He ran better than the bare form suggests in the Betfair hurdle at Newbury last time and this race is a much lower class.  He is about 8/1 in the betting and I think the ground and track will suit – he is not the biggest so should be able to nip around the corners nicely!  He was very consistent and ran some great races earlier in the season before getting stuck in the mud at Sandown in December.  He will enjoy todays better ground and I think he has a good chance.

We also have one runner at Cheltenham today, Thanksforthehelp who runs in the final race of the entire meeting, the Martin Pipe Conditional jockeys handicap hurdle at 5.30pm and Irish jockey Mark McDonagh rides.  He finished eighth in the Pertemps final last year and probably ran better than we initially thought  I don’t think he will mind the drop back in trip in this.  He is a strong traveller who stays well and I can seem him staying well up the final hill.  He has only had the one start this season and originally the plan had been to go chasing but he had a few setbacks before Christmas and chasing was put on hold until next season.  He got a bit tired at Chepstow but that run will have brought him on a lot and he carries a nice weight in this.  This looks a very competitive race but I hope we have an each way chance.  Our jockey won the race two years ago on Banbridge so knows his way around the New course and so hopefully he can get on well with Thanksforthehelp and they can run a good race.

As well as Cheltenham and Fakenham there is also due to be jumping at Ffos Las today but that track has to pass an 8am inspection.  The all-weather action today comes from Wolverhampton and Newcastle while they also race on the flat in Ireland at Dundalk. 

The Brits fought back a bit yesterday with winners for the Skelton, Nicholls and Pauling teams but Gordon Elliott won the Stayers hurdle with favourite Teahupoo.  Jamaico showed up for a long way but then was left behind from three out.  He is a lovely young horse and a return to calmer waters will see him in a better light next time.  Phantomofthepoints was narrowly beaten up at Hexham.  He jumped well but I am not sure he was enjoying the ground very much.  It was nearly unraceable I believe and he looked a little laboured throughout.  He is a lovely young horse and his winning turn cannot be far away.

The Triumph hurdle kicks off the Cheltenham card today and Willie Mullins looks to have a very strong hand and is helped by the absence of Sir Gino.  The County hurdle follows and looks ultra-competitive.   The Skelton team are in red hot form and L’eau Du Sud might be the answer after finishing second in the Betfair hurdle last time.  There are some good looking stayers in the Albert Bartlett novices hurdle and Gidleigh Park looks the best of the British but may have to settle for a place behind another Willie Mullins trained favourite in Readin Tommy Wrong.  I am hoping Galopin Des Champs can retain his Gold Cup crown on the 100^th year anniversary.  There are only 12 runners in the Foxhunters at 4.10pm which is a little sad to see and the prize is likely to be heading to Ireland looking at the betting.  Dinoblue is favourite for the Mares chase and will be difficult to beat and then hopefully we can be involved in the finish of the lucky last!

Last night in the football West Ham and Liverpool won and are safley through to the quarter finals of the Europa League while Brighton were unfortunately knocked out.  

I shall enjoy catching up with the golf after the racing has finished later with the Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass currently taking place.  Several players, including Rory McIlroy have made a good start to the tournament and so it promises to be a good few days of action.

I’ve just invented the first thought controlled air freshener…

It makes scents when you think about it!

Enjoy the fourth and final day at Cheltenham everyone!