Wow what a week. So fabulous to meet up with so many friends and our runners ran well in ground that we feared wouldn’t be ideal. Brillare Momento is a tough mare and ran a big race in the Martin Pipe Conditional Race under another mature ride from Harry Stock and still looked in with every chance 2 out but the ground then told and Harry looked after her when she was beaten. She’s a lovely mare and we’ll have much more fun with her.
Fabulous racing too and Cheltenham could not have looked after us any better. Huge thanks to them as their Owner Experience was superb from start to finish. From Simon Claisse’s PA Vix to the girls on the way in – Louise, Lizzie and Jane to Wendy in the Tattersalls Pavillion, they couldn’t have done more for us and our owners. I’ve not even mentioned the food yet…the food was absolutely delicious, such a treat and I know all the connections we spoke to agreed and felt very lucky to have a horse good enough to run there. Well done Cheltenham.
We are so fortunate to be a part of such a brilliant sport full of such a variety of wonderful people and this is one of the things I will really take away from this week. There is surely no other sport where you have so much access to the top sportsmen – we were absolutely delighted for Richard Johnson and Colin Tizzard to win such a wonderful Gold Cup and they generously shared the Gold Cup, and it’s contents, with all of us in the marquee afterwards…where else would that happen?! Our family, as I’m sure so many others did, couldn’t have shouted Richard home louder – Colin Tizzard is so kind to my boys and a great man to have in the sport and, I know I’ve said it before but Richard Johnson is a worthy Champion and we could have no better Ambassador for Jump Racing. My boys could have no better hero to look up to.
What a week – roll on next year where hopefully some of the lovely youngsters we have in the yard will also be Festival bound and give their owners an unforgettable experience too.