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Plus 1 and dry when driving in.

Saturday morning and it already feels like the morning after the Lord Mayors show!

But what a show it was.

Cheltenham racing at its best with some of the best finishes seen for ages.

The Gold Cup was an excellent race to watch and standing on the balcony looking over a packed house for the first time during the week was enough to feel the goosebumps in action.

Galopin Des Champs was so brave and now he has back to back Gold Cups.. Yes another for the imperious Willie Mullins..

Last years Grand National winner Corach Rambler was a very gallant third and has set himself up to try and repeat his win at Aintree 12 months ago..The supporting races were good and the Brits did not disgrace themselves, especially Dan Skelton who is now our leading jumps trainer..

The dreaded Prestbury Cup.. 18 Irish wins to 9 English wins.. A thrashing? Well probably, but if you think that Nicky Henderson should have won at least 2 of the big races then it puts it into perspective..Nicky not having a winner was a sad state, but I really feel very sorry for him.. He is a top chap and behaved like one all week..

Social media had a frenzy of complaints..too expensive, shocking car parking and dreadful traffic on Tuesday and Friday.. One of my owners who having spent £20 for a car park place then had to pay another £30 to be towed out when his car got stuck in the quagmire.. When he asked for some dry ground to park on a day later he was told to ‘upgrade his car for next year!!’   I am not sure how I would have handled that slide remark?..

Cheltenham is our best racecourse and the best jumps track in the world, but its parking facilities are a disgrace.. I went in everyday in a 4x4 and if not I too would have been marooned..

The biggest worry is the decline in numbers. Bar yesterday it almost felt busier on New Years day than this years Festival. The knock on for this decline is felt all over the local area. Cheltenham itself was very quiet on Tuesday and Wednesday night and you could get into many restaurants that normally you cannot, even when the Festival is not on.

This email came from Gary Wynne from Australia..

'Not good to see those attendance numbers in decline, however it’s very expensive .

We were shocked at the prices we had to pay, we did do a corporate package prior to COVID, but really the costs V quality, really did not match.

If they carry on at this rate, its going to be owners only!!'

Another email this time from from Paul..'I believe Cheltenham is on the cusp of losing much of its glamour. It will always draw the horsey set, but it seems determined to price out all other punters. They need to be very careful to include everyone to its hallowed grounds'

Enough..

Here at Thorndale we look back on a great victory with Chianti Classic.. A huge win for us and one that will hopefully bring further business or horses?.

As I mentioned before I cannot thank you all for the 100s of emails, texts and WhatsApp messages and one of the best lines came from Charles Atkinson who in his email mentioned that seeing and watching David Bass’s triumphal entry to the winners enclosure was like watching a conquering Roman Emperor entering Rome.... Brilliant!

Back to Saturday and David Bass and Ciaran Getings were in to ride out.

John Benson was here to see his KBRS horses Parc d'Amour, El Rio and Phantom Getaway.

We have no runners today although we do have one tomorrow at Huntingdon. Land Afar runs there and for my thoughts please click here.

Milly Jeory, who looks after Chianti Classico was meant to have her first ride on Inca Rose in a point to point tomorrow but that has been called off.. waterlogged! Frustrating..

If you have not had enough of me this week I am afraid I am a guest on Nick Luck's promgrame Luck On Sunday tomorrow morning..

Don't forget the Six Nations.

Have a great weekend and back to normal on Monday!