Sean's Blog

Back writing after taking a few days off after Cheltenham. A whirlwind trip, complete with every speck of drama that racing can provide. From Sherminator to State Man. Golden Ace to Galopin Des Champs. From Epsom to Sandown. Taunton to Cheltenham. Somewhere along the line of that week, there was … Read More

Leaving the Cotswolds Saturday morning, wedged into the back of a red Range Rover on the most roundabout way to Heathrow ever choreographed. Waze would not approve. Not that I notice, or care. Hat boxes, croissant wrappers, rolling bags, overcoats, dog-eared racecards, a betting slip or ten, empty ginger shot … Read More

Golden Miller…Arkle…Best Mate…Kauto Star. Today, Galopin Des Champs tries to cross into the ethereal. The French-bred, Irish-trained 9-year-old seeks his third consecutive win in the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup. Trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Paul Townend, Galopin Des Champs is the 4/7 favorite to achieve jump racing’s ultimate … Read More

Two years. Two horses. One jockey. Michael O’Sullivan guided Marine Nationale and Jazzy Matty to wins at the Cheltenham Festival in 2023. A rising phenom, a respected young man, at the cusp of a burgeoning career, a beautiful life. Two years later, those two horses won again at Cheltenham and … Read More

The first gasp. The 2023 Champion Hurdle winner Constitution Hill finally did what he had been threatening to do and stepped long and low at the fourth hurdle, crashing to the ground. His first fall. His first loss. The second gasp. The 2024 Champion Hurdle winner State Man grinding toward … Read More

Cheltenham kicked off early. Nothing like four days of Cheltenham being gravy. This year it’s gravy. There is nothing like a winner. Anywhere. Anytime. Anyplace. Sherminator improved to 2-for-2 with a definitive performance in front of a gaggle of Riverdee partners in the opener at Taunton Monday. The quaint country … Read More

Rolling down the M3 or the M27 or some traffic-packed British road on the way to Taunton Racecourse in Somerset. Raining. We have hours to go so not sure that makes any difference to the ground at the course. Sherminator is 4/5 in the opener. George Baker’s Eton Blue is … Read More

Beautiful morning at Epsom. Seeing the Derby course, the rise, the fall, Tattenham Corner and all its glory. Horses and riders. Dogs and pedestrians. In glorious sunshine. The long-time viewer, first-time visitor point of view. What a place. Beautiful afternoon at Sandown. The same sunshine – a rarity – and another … Read More

Welcome to England. Smooth flight Thursday night, easy day Friday (pub lunch at the Horse Guards Inn) and now ready to roll Saturday morning. Epsom this morning (just passed Eclipse’s old stall), Sandown this afternoon (Gowran Park on the tellie), Twickenham Sunday (I’ll learn the rules this afternoon), Taunton Monday … Read More

Imagine if every day was travel day…think of the things you’d get done. I’m bombing away through a to-do list. Laundry, compost, dishes, invoices, apps, writing, selling, ticking, checking, emailing, texting, cleaning, hugging… No crying. Yet. Just gave Miles an awkward hug, sliding between his baseball bag strapped to his … Read More