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