this looks like being a really tough Cheltenham at which to get winners. I keep hearing about Wednesday "bankers" day. I'm not so sure, although Envoi Allen will take a lot of beating for sure in the Ballymore. Probably the only one I am confident about at the moment is Paisley Park on the Thursday.
The good thing is that most of the ground they will be racing on will be fresh, not raced on since last years festival. However, I think particularly on the Tuesday it could get very testing on the later races and it will pay to take that into account when looking at the Novices Handicap Chase and the National Hunt Chase.
Someone also said better horses prefer better ground, which I think is certainly true. There is however, a class of midwinter horse who run big races between November and February, but who rarely show their best in the spring festivals. This might be the year that changes.
Weren't you worried about the floods the other week and the festival not taking place? In addition to it being cancelled due to coronavirus? Are those concerns allayed for you now Florida? . P.s still some flooding in Tewkesbury but unless you intend to walk across the flooded fields you 'll be ok to get go Cheltenham..
Why would you let a football match in Manchester with 73,000 fans go ahead yesterday and just 48 hours later cancel racing? Completely illogical. The lockdown in Italy is justified due to the number of cases and fatalities but there has been nothing on that scale in the UK - nor should there be if everyone follows health advice.
heard about this last night - just checked again, the exchanges are moving towards it being on again though personally i don't think it will be called off, the government is so incompetent that it will let it go ahead now
Blimey Florida..first the floods and we were all not gonna get to Cheltenham and the course being under water..to Cheltenham being cancelled cause of the virus and again today it's going to be cancelled. Do you really think the Government who are meeting sports bodies today will come out later and say immediate ban on all sporting events starting now? So all the Irish thst have come over in their droves and those over for champions league games tough luck! It's going to be a gradual process not a panic now! If the festival was in 2 weeks time we might well be concerned...
2 weeks ago Italy had about the same number of cases as the UK - it now has over 7,000 and nearly 400 dead. the UK government is doing nothing to stop the spread of the virus. you really think a bit of hand washing will stop all this ?
That talent - for talking well without saying anything - has got him a long way in life. He will get his comeuppance, that sort always do. But unfortunately he won’t be the only one paying the price for his lies.
Agreed Oddy. Also around 160.000 spectators at Crufts, as well as 28,000 dogs from all over the World (mainly from the UK of course). Surely someone there was carrying the virus and will take it back to infect others
