There was always a chance that the Mullins team would be dominant yesterday and that’s how it turned out. I was out of luck but there were no excuses — I just wasn’t on the best horses.
I might have finished second aboard Jezki in the Stan James Champion Hurdle had I not taken on Faugheen at the top of the hill. He was getting a fairly free run of it up front and it was a case of trying to challenge and make it a bit more difficult for him, but I paid the price for that.
Faugheen was tremendously impressive, as were Douvan and Un De Sceaux. Hats off to Willie and Ruby.
It was great to see Cause Of Causes bounce back to form in the Toby Balding National Hunt Chase. It had been my suggestion for him to run in the race and he’d now be a possible final ride for me in the Crabbie’s Grand National.
Today’s highlight is the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase. My mount, Mr Mole, has been a horse renowned for shirking the issue but his trainer, Paul Nicholls, has done a great job mentally getting him right and he is much more willing these days.
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He arrives at Cheltenham as an improver seeking a fifth successive win and hopefully he’s got a realistic chance.
Sire De Grugy is the one we all have to beat. He was very impressive when carrying plenty of weight in a handicap at Chepstow last time.
I’d have reservations about Sprinter Sacre. He looked nowhere near the horse he was on his return at Ascot and the fact that he was found to have bled afterwards has to be a negative.
My best chance of a winner today is probably Parlour Games in the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle (1.30).
The form of his win over course and distance in November is solid, and then he followed up with a defeat of Vyta Du Roc in the Challow Hurdle at Newbury. There will probably not be much between them again and they look the best of the English-trained horses.
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There is real depth to the RSA Chase (2.05), even in the absence of Coneygree. If In Doubt stays well and is progressive but he’s got to improve a lot in terms of form. He won a handicap off 139 at Doncaster last time but I reckon he’ll need a performance in the 160s to win this afternoon.
He’s not a good jumper but hopefully he will get better as he goes along — some learn, some don’t. Don Poli rates the main threat in a very good renewal.
Goodwood Mirage is my ride in the Coral Cup. He’s been disappointing but Jonjo [O’Neill] has always had a lot of faith in him and today would be a good day for him to repay it.
The Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase has been a worthy addition to the meeting but it’s not for me. I’d be disappointed in myself if I got injured riding around there. My one and only ride around that track was something like 12 years ago.
Jonjo O’Neill has two JP-owned runners in the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle in Box Office and The Saint James. They are similar types, being French imports who were a bit disappointing when making their respective debuts in England. I’m on Box Office, who ran all right at Taunton but will need to progress.
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My final ride of the day is Yanworth in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper (5.15). He won at Wincanton and Newbury in good style, then was second to Supasundae at Ascot. Whether he can improve again, I’m not sure.
The Mullins brigade will be the focus for many. I doubt even he knows which of his seven is best but the one I like among them is Pylonthepressure.