Cheltenham Festival

And so finally I had something to shout about yesterday at Cheltenham. Lizzie Kelly, who effectively tipped herself, romped home on board Siruh Du Lac and in doing so saved my Friday at Cheltenham. Before that ride it had been a generally wonderful day at the Festival, stories galore, feel good moments, incredible performances, but for me it had been more of the same.

Lizzie Kelly led from first fence to the finish on Siruh Du Lac.

Barry Geraghty, kicked the day off with a double, Briony Frost guided Frodan round to win the Ryanair and then Paisley Park took the Stayers Hurdle for his blind owner, Andrew Gemmell, who gave one of the most emotional speeches I can remember afterwards. But for me the highlight was Kelly on Siruh Du Lac. She had claimed, on the BBC, that the horse could not be beaten but nobody really seemed to believe her, certainly none of her fellow pundits on the Beeb. What followed was a giant victory and puts to rest forever any debate about female jockeys versus their male counterparts, there are just jockeys, plain and simple.

However, when I punched the air in my office at around 16:17 hours it was only partially for Kelly. She had won and that meant I had won. Gold Cup Friday was saved, that win adding £17 to the initial £1.48 and also earning me a free £2 bet in the process. There’s is no time to discuss the why’s s and wherefore’s of the selections below, I’m just happy that my Friday afternoon is going to be a little more interesting than it looked at 4pm yesterday.

A big price trixie to kick things off.