That was a difficult day. You might find that an unusual thing to say but it’s impossible not to recognise British racing is nursing a bloody nose midway through Cheltenham.
When you are in my position, you want to celebrate the brilliance of trainer Willie Mullins — more of that in a moment — but there was a point early on Wednesday’s card when things felt flat, as Irish horses ran amok and their English rivals vanished almost without trace.
Thank heavens for Dan Skelton, who doubled up with Langer Dan and Unexpected Party, taking the mantle from Kim Bailey on Tuesday and providing the home team with some solace. But we really need big horses from English stables running big races in Championship events. It has to change.
It won’t change any time soon, though. Mullins is doing things that are unlikely to be seen again over jumps. This isn’t like Chelsea and Manchester City did in football, making massive investments to build fantastic squads and becoming dominant. In racing, owners have decided they want to be with Mullins.
Who wouldn’t? His record, particularly over the last decade, is staggering and people who are successful in different fields want to have success when they turn their hand to sport. Nobody is better positioned to give it to them than Mullins.
Harry Skelton rode Unexpected Party to victory in the Grand Annual chase on Wednesday
Harry Skelton celebrates with Langer Dan after winning the Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle
Trainer Dan Skelton claimed a memorable double on the second day at Cheltenham
He will be adding to his century of winners before the Festival ends and I am hoping Jade De Grugy is the one to take him into room 101. She runs in the colours of Honeysuckle and I have told anyone who will listen that she is my best bet of the meeting.
This is my main gambling day of the week, so fingers are firmly crossed. In my old role working in football, I used to struggle presenting games that Southampton lost and today could be similar. I will do my best to stay neutral — but don’t hold me to it.
By the time of the Mares Novices’ Hurdle (4.50), I’m usually in the car heading back to my hotel. I have a routine of watching the last race on Racing TV in the bath with a glass of something to revive me, then straight into the ITV production meeting to kick on with the next day.
I will break that routine, however, as this race is a humdinger. It looks like a Gordon Elliott v Mullins shootout. Elliott talks about his mare Brighterdaysahead as a star of the future but they say the same about Jade De Grugy. Ruby Walsh, especially, talks of her in glowing terms.
But there is a third element to this puzzle. Dysart Enos is a big player and if she wins I would expect her jockey Paddy Brennan to retire on the spot. There could be tears galore in the winner’s enclosure and this is the biggest day of her trainer Fergal O’Brien’s career.
He runs Crambo in the Stayers’ Hurdle and how the stable could do with a change of fortune after the death of Highland Hunter on Tuesday. Crambo has young legs on his side and, while a victory for old stager Paisley Park would bring the house down, he might just lack zip.
Willie Mullins (C) celebrates after becoming the first trainer to claim 100 Festival winners
Mullins’ Ballyburn romped to victory in the Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle on Wednesday
Zip isn’t something Grey Dawning — one of my favourite horses in training — lacks. The wider audience could fall in love with this gorgeous, flamboyant grey today. He crashed through the second last here in December yet still nearly beat Ginny’s Destiny. Paul Nicholls is exuding confidence about Ginny’s Destiny but he will have to wait for the Ryanair Chase (2.10) to get in on the act: I’m confident Stage Star, who is owned by a huge syndicate paying just £60 for a share, will win.
I’m also confident Grey Dawning will get his revenge in the Turners (1.30) and give the Skelton yard their third triumph of the week. A fourth could arrive in the Pertemps Hurdle, which is always a tough puzzle to crack, but I can’t resisting tipping in it.
Le Milos is ridden by Harry Skelton for brother Dan, the best target trainer for a handicap hurdle in the business. Look how well prepared Langer Dan was yesterday. Le Milos was high-class over fences and his profile in this contest fascinates me.
But guess who provides the alternative? That’s right, Mullins. Icare Allen was so eye-catching when qualifying at Aintree in November and was immediately put away for this. Keep him on your side.
Ed Chamberlin is an ambassador for Sky Bet
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