sport news ED CHAMBERLIN: My five wishes for the Cheltenham Festival... including Paisley ... trends now
The feelings are as strong now as they were when I first set foot in the place. They haven’t changed nor will they ever change. Cheltenham is jump racing’s magical playground and its capacity to leave you spellbound means it is a place like no other.
I have no problem admitting that I will be impatient for the next couple of days. I know horses have already started arriving at the course, our extensive production meetings are done and dusted — we’ve got some fabulous content for you to enjoy on ITV — and I just wish it was Tuesday morning.
But my wishes don’t stop there. I have five for the week ahead and it would be fabulous to see them fulfilled.
Sit back and enjoy it all. The Festival will be brilliant. The Festival, you should know by now, is always brilliant.
1. Big Festivals on terrestrial television need the love to be shared around. Willie Mullins will have brilliant winners and, at some point, we’ll celebrate the stunning achievement of him being the first trainer to reach a century of Cheltenham Festival winners.
Former champion Paisley Park could raise the roof in the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle
Willie Mullins is seeking to be first trainer to reach a century of Cheltenham Festival winners
But I also hope smaller operators, lesser-known owners and syndicates have their day in the sun.
Aspiration is so important in sport and nothing sells racing better than seeing a small investment that can get you to the biggest stage, as was the case last summer on the Flat with bargain buys such as Live In The Dream and Regional. That dream has to be attainable over jumps.
STAGE STAR will be one of the best hopes in the Ryanair Chase on Thursday, with thousands of Owners Group members cheering him on up and down the land. He won The Turners’ Chase on the same card 12 months ago, don’t bet against him following up.
2. With Constitution Hill out, the Festival has lost its biggest
