The day started disastrously with my fancy in the first race (Maughreen) facing the wrong way when the tapes went up – so she had no chance. (The starts have been a mess right through the meeting so far – big unwieldy fields all angling for position.) Paddy Power generously refunded my losing stake. However, I had been taken by the effusive praise for Air of Entitlement’s condition in the parade ring before the race so put a saver on De Bromhead’s horse at 16-1. She duly obliged, narrowly besting the favourite. Next up was the Novices Chase, not my favourite type of race, but I very much liked Paul Nichols Caldwell Potter so I backed him singly and also in my Yankee. He led from start to finish at the very decent price of 7-1. We’re on a roll. However, the next race was where I knew the stars were aligned in my favour. There were 24 runners in the Pertemps Final over 3 miles and I very much liked both Henderson runners – the favourite Jeriko Du Reponet (11-2) and the erratic but potentially well-handicapped Dodiethegreat (25-1) – for whom the added tongue-tie gave grounds for optimism. Both had been placed in good handicaps last time out and Nicky Henderson specialises in these high-class handicaps. The pair were always handy and came to the fore two out, pulling well clear after the last (see above). The long shot won me a decent amount, the second kept my each way Yankee going but crucially I had also backed the two in a reverse forecast that paid 144-1. Now you can relax, knowing that whatever rashness ensues, this is going to be a winning Cheltenham. I couldn’t separate Fact or File and Il Est Francais in the Ryanair Chase but backed the latter. He ran well but failed to stay and Fact or File was a most impressive winner. Next up was the Stayer’s Hurdle where I strongly fancied The Wallpark and backed it both singly and in my Yankee. My old favourite Bob Olinger was also running but its form had been spotty, and it was not proven over three files. However, I noted that it was being backed (from 20-1 to 8-1) and couldn’t bear the thought that such a proven Cheltenham horse would win without me – so I lobbed on a reasonable saver. Both ran well, the Wallpark finishing 3rd and Bob Olinger outstayed the warm favourite to win narrowly. I ignored the two concluding chases and retired from the fray, exhausted and elated. There were of course regrets. None of the three long-priced horses were in my Yankee. Had I put my four winners in a Yankee it would have yielded around €72,000. But any profitable day at Cheltenham is to be cherished and this was my best day ever (in 60 years) from that point of view.
