Happy New Year! Words of friendship and salutation but for me the second line is usually ‘Now get planning your Cheltenham Preview trips!’.
Just two months to go to those iconic four days when the mind is focussed on the Greatest Show on Turf in that part of Gloucestershire that, for many is a shrine of annual pilgrimage.
But for me a lot of work gets done long before the colours for the opening race, the Skybet Supreme have to be learnt.
We’ve seen clues already- Christmas in Ireland brought wins for Hurricane Fly( an amazing 18th Group one win) and for Gold Cup hero Bobsworth( about the only Englishman to have won anything abroad in months) while in sodden blighty Silviniaco Conti and My Tent or Yours have been amongst the big winners.
There are the amazing popular Preview Panels to be done in Ireland- the clock seems to stand still and the locals love them(in what other job could you still be talking Gold Cup winners at 2am with the local Gardai) , Trainers on both sides of the Irish Sea to be visited and Interviewed, and with a bit of luck a few winners to be found.
Just over 60 days to go. I’ll count every one, the bag is packed, but Dear Mr Weatherman, if you could see your way clear………………………..
Mike ‘Keep your halo straight’ Vince