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This blog was written while watching Many Clouds race and beat Thistlecrack. This lovely horse died as he passed the line- a bitter pill for race fans to swallow.

The joy and sorrow of Cheltenham

It seems impossible at this time of the year not to think of Cheltenham in March. For one thing , we’ve organised racing trips for most of the last 20 years; for another, there’s only been one Cheltenham Festival Meeting since 1990, that I haven’t been to.

My admiration for the place goes back to watching Dawn Run being led back to the winners enclosure, watching the Thinker jumping through the snow and Desert Orchid inning against all the odds on the track he didn’t like. That was before I’d ever been to Prestbury Park.

In 1995 I joined the Cheltenham based Eagle Star and my love affair with the Festival began.

Many memories of friends,  gambles landed and lost – but most of all races like the ones I have just watched with Many Clouds edging out Thistlecrack in the Gold Cup Trial – the Cotswold Chase. Triumph for Leighton Aspell, Oliver Sherwood  and Trevor Hemmings. Triumph turning to sadness as the horse collapsed yards after his final triumph.

To Many Clouds

This year, as we have the last four, we will be taking a bus down from London (Paddington) for the Tuesday of the Festival (Champions Day -14th March).

We’ll raise our glasses to Many Clouds on the day.

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