Wow what a day we had at Cheltenham on Friday – what a win by Mark Boothright’s Back on the Lash making his debut over the famous cross-country fences we love so much. Usually it takes a race to get used to the unique challenge that the cross-country fences set and although we’d been schooling a couple of times recently it’s completely different in a race yet by the way he was backed into favourite there must have been plenty of confidence in him and their confidence was rewarded.
It was a very intelligent ride by Sean. Lash was loving it from the outset but was running with the choke out and all too keen so he knew that, as the trip was further than he’d ever run before, he was going to struggle to get home. He therefore dropped him in and settled him and got him popping away before eventually coming with one run, flying the last and Lash is so tough and genuine he said he knew that he wasn’t going to get beaten up the hill.
Bred by Mrs Welch and trainer Richard Phillips and out of Giovanna, who Mark Boothright was part owner of when she was racing, Back On The Lash was bought by the Bowen Family as a yearling and broken in by them too. Mark bought him in November 2017 as a 3 year old and we’ve had him since then – the Bowen’s assured us they only sold him to pay for a conservatory and not because they didn’t think he was any good! It was lovely to see Peter & Karen Bowen beyond the winning line congratulating the horse 1st and then their son – brilliant.
So many of our supporters in the Winners’ Enclosure greeted us with such a roar that many have since said it felt like a Festival winner! Amazing to be welcomed by a sea of familiar faces – almost overwhelming. Fabulous – the Winners’ Enclosure at Cheltenham is a very special place to be and it was extra special to have the boys there too – a day where they learnt far more than a day at school and both were thrilled to be interviewed live on ITV Racing. Freddie was Mini Ed Chamberlain on ITV Racing’s Mini Me Series a couple of years ago so Ed was quick to grab him to do the live link to the final televised race and he nailed it. Special times.
Thrilled for everyone especially Mark Boothright, who has been such a supporter of ours and Beth who looks after him and rides him out every day – she absolutely adores her ‘Lash Potato’ and is still on Cloud 9 as we all are. Our 21st Cheltenham winner and win number 27 for the season.
Talkischeap was running a lovely race and looked to be enjoying himself before unfortunately coming off the bank too steeply and giving Tom Bellamy no chance of staying on board. I look forward to running him back there in December. Both were A1 yesterday morning as is Brorson who ran another solid race but whom we now need to step up in trip. Sean looked after him when he found the pace all too quick and he was beaten however I was really impressed how he stayed on up the hill eventually to only be beaten 4 1/4 lengths. He’s a horse we will continue to have a lot of fun with.
No runners for the rest of the weekend but we were back at Cheltenham yesterday (had trophies to collect!) and it was a wonderful day of racing and catching up with people. Last night we had a fun supper with some of Team Big Nasty at The Sheep in Stow on the Wold and it was really good fun and delicious food too. More plans made!