Thistlecrack 21st February 2017 – Cheltenham withdrawal -  For future reference, my notes prior to the bad news. Thistlecrack lost his unbeaten record over fences when going down narrowly to the ill-fated Many Clouds in the Grade Two Cotwold Chase at Cheltenham in late...

Cue Card 18th February 2017 – Ascot – He did no more than the official handicap marks would have suggested. That said he jumped and travelled well and won with plenty to spare from a group of rivals well below top class. The sectional...

Sizing John 12th February 2017 – Leopardstown – He travelled and jumped superbly all the way off this steady pace. He had too much speed for his rivals from the last aside from the possibly slightly unlucky runner up. He has a brilliant festival...

Thistlecrack 28th January 2017 – Cheltenham – I think that this was a particularly gruelling race on soft ground. The time of the race was 26 seconds above average which supports this notion given how much of a gallop the principals went. He has...

Native River 27th December 2016 – Chepstow – He was in third or fourth place in the early stages and, perhaps, as a consequence he was sticky over the third, fourth, fifth and sixth fences. This may not have turned out to be significant...

Thistlecrack 26th December 2016 – Kempton – He was made odds on for the Gold Cup soon after this victory and it is easy to see why given the scintillating style of this success. He won with plenty in hand from a rival who,...

I have backed Altior at 7/4  for the Arkle in a win double with Thistlecrack at 7/2 for the Gold Cup to cover the current most obvious outcome for each contest. Altior has much the stronger chance of the two and so I am...

Thistlecrack 26th November 2016 – Newbury – I doubt that this could have gone any better for him after his less inspiring round of jumping at Cheltenham last time. He barely saw another horse and jumped round in his own time to win as...