TRIALS day at Cheltenham was another cracker on ITV and I was delighted to see my Sun Racing NAP Harry Senior win well.
But who or what has made my latest Good, Bad & Ugly column? Let’s find out!
GOOD
Paisley Park has to take pride of place this week after he won yet again at Cheltenham in the Grade 2 Cleeve Hurdle.
It was astonishing on the day that Paisley Park could be backed at 4-5, although he eventually returned the 4-6 favourite.
There is a little bit of Sea The Stars about Paisley Park, in that he never wins by miles, he just keeps on getting the job done for Emma Lavelle and Saturday’s success was his seventh on the bounce.
His running style has slightly changed as he races a bit more prominently than in the past, but that has not stopped his progress and and I can’t see how any horse can beat him in the Stayers’ Hurdle.
Lavelle deserves plenty of credit for her training of the champion stayer, and hopefully better class horses will now continue to head to her yard.
BAD
Many fancy Santini for the Cheltenham Gold Cup after his victory in the Cotswold Chase at, but I could not have him on my mind.
Yes he is lightly-raced for his age and stayed on well to see off Bristol De Mai up the hill.
But we know Bristol De Mai is not going to win a Gold Cup – for all that he ran well to finish third last year – and for me Santini is simply not good enough.
I’d take on the Nicky Henderson challenger and will be surprised if he scores in March. Most surprised.
UGLY
Things got ugly on Saturday night as I had gone head-to-head with Chris Hughes in a Sun Racing NAPS battle – and absolutely nailed it.
Chris is a lovely guy, but he hates losing and he was really upset. News got to me that he wouldn’t even speak to Little Mix he was that gutted.
Of course the band had a hit with Bounce Back last year – I imagine Chris is listening to that song on replay!
