It's sometimes best to refrain and consider opinions and views after the sort of day we had at Cheltenham yesterday, and things are amplified x 000's when it is in the full glare of Live TV and especially when that LIve TV has a tendency to over dramatise to fill in time between races. The one hard fact is that 3 gallant horses lost their lives yesterday, two to respiratory failure and one to a crushing fall. Our thoughts as always in such circumstances should be with all of those connected to the horses, especially those mostly unseen Stable Staff and background Members who will have an empty space in the wagon and an empty Stable to deal with last night and raw grief.

 

In terms of results yesterday, Tintintin ran a cracking race to finish 4th in The Greatwood and we had an enhanced place in Ireland. I will focus on Cheltenham and Navan tomorrow after further reflection and consideration.

 

It's good to wake up to rain in Devon this morning, something of a rain laden forecast for most days in the next fortnight too. Hopefully all of the Country gets some, and not snow or frost, and we can get back to some degree of normality in terms of Field sizes and competitive racing.

 

A look at the 24 declared runners in 6 races at Plumpton and 28 declared runners in 7 races at Exeter today shows just how much we need nature to turn the taps on.

 

With a couple of AW Fixtures that don't yet whet the appetite, we have looked long and hard at the Leicester Card, especially the Hurdle races on Good to Soft. The Maiden at 1.40 is stacked with potential from some of the bigger Yards and will be well worth watching and analysing, the closing 2 miler looks trappy and more likely than not to be market dominated. However Robin, who is in fair nick, is keen to have a punt on a decent priced one in the 10 runner opening race on the Card at 12.40.