Cheltenham - Tuesday

The Govaness gone and also Pont Alexandre and Rezorbi in the two subsequent races. My heart sinks when this happens at Cheltenham on day one :(.
RIP brave souls.
 
Some great performances today from Altior, the very imposing Douvan and especially from the tough, gutsy Annie Power ... and also from My Tent or Yours to take 2nd after nearly two years off the track - an impressive training accomplishment as this appears to be a very complex horse in many ways.

However, thoughts with everyone connected to the three horses who sadly lost their lives today.

The C4 interview with Sir AP and Ruby Walsh revealed quite a double act
 
So sad about the three horse who lost their lives. Such a high number. I understand two were at the last fence so right in the public eye. I always question why I love racing so much every time this happens. If I had heard three dogs had been killed at a greyhound meeting i would be appalled. It takes an awful lot of care and attention just to get one of these beautiful creatures to a race course. They are so fragile and sensitive.I have an ex racehorse and I know the instances of fatal field injuries are very high, look at Kauto Star ( maybe not the best example because of all the controversy, but I know a couple of people who have lost their thoroughbreds in the field.) Anyway I think what I'm trying to say is these horse are very well cared for, don't deserve to die for our entertainment but tomorrow I will be watching again. What is it about the thoroughbred that gets under our skin.
 
We've further to go yet, but I agree with you.

Alec.

I don't begrudge the stunning performances put in by the horses and it was a pleasure to watch, but the reality is Rich Richi is just that, ridiculously rich and all off the back of banking, need we say more ? There is something unsavoury about that man, no idea what and probably an irrational comment. JP is a very wealthy man with many horses but he seems to come across as a mild mannered reserved man who loves his horses, unlike the pilchard from Ryan Air.

Not a great day for racing with 3 dead and with the ground drying the tally will be added to. Thoughts are with the stable staff with empty headcollars. Lets hope tomorrows magnificent horses come home safe.
 
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I think Rich Ricci actually comes across quite well. Yes he is forthcoming but he is American and a banker! None of the winning owners there today were hard up. Good luck to them all. I rode Altior up the hill though, young lab thought I had gone barmy.
You can have Annie Power, Alec, I will have Vroum Vroum Mag, did you see the backside on that? She would cross a fair bit of country out hunting.

So sad about the horses that died, my sympathies to their connections.
 
The saviour for racehorses on the track compared to those who go at home is on the track the majority of the time death is instantaneous, if not then it will be no more than minutes and long, long before the adrenaline runs out and the horse feels pain.

Another day and hopefully a much happier one than today.
 
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Rich Ricci it a funny one. He's always well spoken, forthcoming and seems to genuinely care about his horses. Yes, he has pots of cash and a questionable taste in suits, but how lucky we are to be seeing these amazing horses of his.

I had a good day, but the Altior's race was my favourite - I was leaping around the room! Really annoyingly a bl**dy client rang me just as the Champion Hurdle started which slightly took the edge off my excitement! Couldn't really screech for The New One as I talked to them...
 
Rich Ricci it a funny one. He's always well spoken, forthcoming and seems to genuinely care about his horses. Yes, he has pots of cash and a questionable taste in suits, but how lucky we are to be seeing these amazing horses of his.

I had a good day, but the Altior's race was my favourite - I was leaping around the room! Really annoyingly a bl**dy client rang me just as the Champion Hurdle started which slightly took the edge off my excitement! Couldn't really screech for The New One as I talked to them...

Horses don't know about the financial status of their owners and we mustn't take anything away from them, but I don't like Rich Ricci either. Many people in this country are suffering due to unscrupulous, greedy bankers; though I imagine if we delved we would find unpleasant information about many owners.
 
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