Sir Anthony McCoy wouldn’t argue with me for saying this: usually, he’s an absolute misery to stand alongside — and that’s even when he’s got a bag of chocolate buttons under his podium.
But he was in ebullient form on Tuesday and the thing about Anthony (who I love, really) is that when he makes a statement, you must listen.
For him to declare, then, this to be ‘the best Cheltenham I have seen for 20 years and definitely the most competitive’ was not some glib remark.
It’s also impossible to disagree with: brilliant performances from two mares, Kargese and Lossiemouth, started the Festival with a bang and carries us into Ladies’ Day today where the decisions made by the Cheltenham hierarchy a couple of years ago are reaping dividends.
There are full fields in each of the first two races, the Turners Novices’ Hurdle and the Browns Advisory Novices’ Chase. In the case of the latter, here is why it was the right thing to do to get rid of the two-and-a-half-mile chase that used to be run on Thursday.
Had that still be in play, Romeo Coolio — a brilliant horse Gordon Elliott thinks will one day run in the Gold Cup — wouldn’t be in the Browns Advisory. Today is all the better for his presence, as he has won three Grade Ones this winter. Can he make it four?
We shall see. I have no doubt the momentum can continue from day one and the 57,242 who came through the door made it feel like Cheltenham was alive. There were four British successes, compared to three for Ireland, and that is the competition we need. Bring it on.
I hope those of who read my first column are in profit. I was thrilled that Johnnywho poked his nose in front on the line to win the Ultima Chase at 18-1 — I explained he would run well — and I was convinced Old Park Star would oblige as he did in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.
Lossiemouth, of course, was the star turn and a grey mare winning on ITV is a magical combination. The public have an affinity with greys and she was the first of her colour to win the Champion Hurdle since Rooster Booster in 2003. She was brilliant.
The thing with racing, however, is that you can never get too far ahead of yourself and what a ferocious day this appears to be for punters. My hope is for No Drama This End, who is owned by my good friend Max McNeill, wins the Turners (1.20).
Max has hit the bar recently more times than Alan Shearer did for his beloved Blackburn Rovers and he was within half-a-length of seeing Quebecois win the Ultima yesterday. He deserves a change of luck, as does his trainer Paul Nicholls. Should they win, the celebrations would be immense.
In the Browns Advisory, I am a big fan of Wendigo (2.00). His trainer, Jamie Snowden, has been thrilled with his preparation and I cannot see him being out of the places.
Does he have the class to win? We’ll only know in the last half furlong but I do know he has deep reserves of stamina. Keep him onside.
If you saw Madara win the Plate on Tuesday for Dan Skelton, you should have Kateira (2.40) on your side in the BetMGM Cup (at a huge price, Buddy One is a viable prospect) and must enter your equations, given the champion trainer elect thinks she is well handicapped.
The race the day is built around is the Queen Mother Champion Chase (4.00) but I would be more inclined to join Anthony when he runs the London Marathon next month than have a financial interest in a contest that historically produces shock results.
Majborough should win, especially if he reproduces what he did at the Dublin Racing Festival, but he can win at odds-on without any of my money. My advice would be to sit back and enjoy it for the spectacle that it is.
The remainder of the card is almost impossible, though I do like Ballysax Hank in the Grand Annual Chase (4.40) for James Bowen, an eye-catching jockey booking by Gold Cup-winning trainer Gavin Cromwell.
Ed Chamberlin is a SkyBet UK ambassador
