the poorest tipster in the land refuses to wave the white flag!

​The rout continues. I honestly believed the British-trained horses would improve on the lamentable efforts of the past few years. I am wrong. It can only get worse. Our only hope to salvage a shred of dignity from the embarrassment of another huge deficit is for Shishkin to win the Ryanair and for one of the British-trained runners to take the Gold Cup, which is no forlorn hope due to the prevailing ground conditions. I cannot, though, find any hope of either of the two British-trained runners in the Stayers Hurdle, Paisley Park and Dashel Drasher, the former 11-years-of-age and the latter 10, figuring in the finish.
Yesterday was particularly disappointing for the home-trained runners. Hermes Allen was made to look ordinary, when going into the Festival he was our bright hope to land a devastating blow on the Mullins Academy of Excellence. Oh, praise be to the sporting gods for The Real Whacker holding on in driving finish with Gerri Columbe. God-bless Patrick Neville and Sam Twiston-Davies. I doubt if The Real Whacker is a genuine Gold Cup horse but, for now, who cares about next season. The Irish were defeated, though it took an Irishman to deliver the blow.
And then Langer Dan gave the Skeltons another Festival winner. We were 2-1 up on the day, with genuine chances of making it 3-1 in the Champion Chase. Woe is me! Again, as it was last year, the British challenge fell apart at the seams, perhaps due to the ever-softening ground, though it has to be said that Energumene was an emphatic winner and is the top 2-mile chaser around.
Unless the cross-country race returns to being a handicap it will become ever-increasingly less competitive and a race for fading heroes. As with the Mares Hurdle, the quality of the first 3 home was a good-bit higher than the entire field for the Ultima on the first day of the meeting. And the only light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel from the Bumper was the encouraging run from Captain Teague, It is always nice, though, when J.P. McManus has a Festival winner. A Dream To Share. Such a nice name, isn’t it?
The following selections for Thursday’s card come with a wealth warning and a heart-felt plea for any fool seeking punting solace here, that you go to my recent blogs to get a full understanding of why I am ‘the poorest tipster’. At Cheltenham, anyway.
The Turners Golden Miller Chase – the race is named after Golden Miller, the winner of 5 Cheltenham Gold Cups and a Grand National, calling the race ‘the Turners’ does a huge disservice to the history of the sport and the memory of one of our greatest steeplechasers. Mighty Potter is a good thing. Go on Davy!
The Pertemps is a minefield, with the only certainty being Willie Mullins will not be winning it. I tentatively put forward Level Neverending to give Gordon Elliott a quick double.
I cannot see Shishkin being beaten in the Ryanair, though if he is it will be by Willie Mullins.
The Stayers Hurdle will not stay at home, that’s for sure. I suggest Teahupoo to give Gordon Elliott a third winner on the day. I am wary of the French horse, though, Gold Tweet.
I have hope that Fugitif might keep the Plate at home and give Sean Bowen a deserved Cheltenham winner.
If there is a rainbow in the sky come 4-50, give a thought to backing one of the Henry de Bromhead runners in the Jack de Bromhead Mares Novice Hurdle, registered as the Dawn Run Mares Novice Hurdle. Again, as with the Golden Miller! Be aware, Henry runs Magical Zoe in the race, so don’t mix her up with Princess Zoe, my selection for the race. Class, they say, will usually prevail.
The Kim Muir will be won by Henry with Royal Thief, formerly near top class and only set to carry 11st 2Ibs.