My Best Mate and I have just returned from a wonderful cruise aboard Voyager of the Seas. I kept in touch with the racing and football results from internet cafes in the different ports of call and once home could not wait to see my Sky+ Box recordings of Channel 4’s coverage of the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury and the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown. What a performance by Denman and what a good starting price! Twist Magic was also impressive in the Tingle Creek and at this early stage looks a worthy ante-post favourite for the Queen Mother Champion Chase next March at Cheltenham as Well Chief is sidelined for the rest of the season. Denman was reportedly only 90% fit. If that is the case and the going at Cheltenham next March is heavy he will be my selection to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup. However that is a long way off and this Friday and Saturday we have the Boylesports Meeting at Cheltenham. The feature race of the Meeting is the £150,000 Boylesports Gold Cup for which there has been a major gamble on New Little Bric. Can Paul Nicholls and Sam Thomas take the big race for the fourth weekend running? The money seems to think so. New Alco did not like the heavy ground in the Hennessy and was pulled up. The ground should suit this time and he might be the each-way value along with Idole First who was pulled up in the Paddy Power Gold Cup.
The Champion Hurdle winner Sublimity makes his reappearance in the £200,000 Boylesport Hurdle. I am sure he is not coming over from Ireland for the fresh air.
The Boylesport Novices Hurdle looks destined to go to Franchoek who won so easily last time at Cheltenham’s Paddy Power Meeting. For the runners and riders for this Friday and Saturday click on the link to the Sporting Life in the left hand column. Be lucky.
Once again I will recording Channel 4’s coverage of the racing on my Sky+ Box as I will be at Portman Road hoping Ipswich can keep their good home form going.