Eight days to go.
Champion Hurdle favorite Constitution Hill is out.
Arkle favorite Marine Nationale is out.
Who’s next?
The Cheltenham Festival pressures owners, trainers, jockeys and horses. There is a horse running in Great Britain named Heltenham. No doubt, many have walked out of Prestbury Park muttering those sentiments.
Valdez represented Riverdee at Cheltenham twice. A fifth in the Arkle, no disgrace, he ran hard, made us proud. A novice chaser with low mileage and a smooth engine, the sky was ahead. Four years – and just three starts – later, we took a stab and tried him in the Grand Annual.
Jumped right, held up, swerved to avoid fallers 2nd, jumped right and unseated rider 3rd (op 20/1).
The gallant chestnut continued, jumping right, careening and caroming, crossing the finish line in front. It wasn’t what I thought it would feel like when your horse crossed the wire in front at Cheltenham. He was fine. I was not. Heltenham. No doubt.
I go back this year. No runners. Just a fan. A writer. A losing bet or two, a queue or two, the closest I’ll get to Heltenham. For Constitution Hill and Marine Nationale’s connections, they’ve already been there this year.
