Trouble Digger thought he was in seventh heaven being taken for an away gallop, he loves life and thoroughly enjoyed himself. Cestus went too. All the others had routine canters, they are now fit and most will be freshen up before racing over the next 3 weeks.
Cheltenham was hugely exciting and gives me me a real buzz, I can really empathise with how many of the trainers must feel, Nicky Henderson looks a nervous wreck. Sprinter Sacre was outstanding and a joy to watch. The New One was also brilliant, Sam TD is a future champion jockey and a very nice guy, I spoke to his agent last week in the hope of booking him for Cestus, he is pencilled in and only time will tell if we get him or not.
Channel 4's coverage and camera work is appalling. Graham Cunningham thoughts and analysis relate to the horses as being like racing cars. He should be scratched from the Channel 4 team ASAP. He makes ridiculous comments and it is clear he actually understands nothing about training and riding horses. He is obvioulsy very good at clock watching as he seems obsessed with section times. Their camera work is atrocious and only for the run in rail, horses and jockey's body language we'd have no idea a fence is approaching. Many viewers will be able to see a horses stride at a fence and know whether or not it will be meeting it spot on, short or long from many strides out. On many occasions, with the camera work today it was impossible to see how the horses were going to meet the fences. At times I saw the front 2 or 3 jump an obstacle and had no idea if any others had followed them over or fallen. It is all well and good getting in close to the horses but that isn't how to watch a horse race. We need to be able to see the whole field apart from stragglers for 95% of the time. There should be a warning to viewers at the start of coverage that if they suffer from epilepsy they should not watch as the camera work could induce a fit!
Back In Focus' half brother named Medieval Gateway is tucked up in his stable this evening, he may well run at Barbury Castle on 24th March. Briar Hill the winner of the Champion bumper is by Shantou the same sire as Medieval Gateway. Graham Wylie owns both Briar Hill and Back In Focus, perhaps Mr Wylie would like to buy Medieval Gateway at the sales once he's won on 24th March.
