The Gold Cup at Cheltenham om Mar 14 was won by the best horse in Best Mate (178 last season). What was not known before the race was whether it would stay or not. In winning it proved that it stayed better than many in the field. On the clock it was not an exceptional performance being only its third best effort. It did travel well throughout the race though and appeared to have plenty in hand if neccessary. In fact I would go as far to say that barring injury it will successfully defend its crown next season. The opposition here was disappointing also the staying chasers coming through the novice ranks have a lot to find as yet.

In the race itself Looks Like Trouble made the running until before three out. It was never jumping well enough and was subsequently found to have had a recurrence of its tendon injury. Analysis of the race shows that he quickened up the hill on the far side on both circuits when it would have been better to have slown down a little. It made the race a test for which few horses were upto on the day. See More Business, who had always been tracking the leader took up the running from three out but was itself headed by Commanche Court before two out which it hit. Best Mate had looked to be going easily a long way from home was still full of running. Jim Culloty had been in no hurry to take up the running though. Coming to the last he allowed the winner its head and they surged into the lead with an immaculate leap, looking likely to draw well clear. Commanche Court under pressure from Ruby Walsh did not lie down though and responded all the way to the line getting beaten by just 1 3/4 lengths, though Culloty had not got really serious with his mount. See More Business plodded on for third a further eight lengths behind. This was still a creditable effort from the former Gold Cup winner. Marlborough in fourth could make no impression from the top of the hill, showing no improvement on its Newbury effort in the Aon. What's Up Boys stayed on encouragingly for its Grand National prospects in fifth. The time taken from four out to the line was only just over a second quicker than the subsequent FoxHunters. Two quick gallops up the hill on the far side had taken their toll.

Apart from Looks Like Trouble major disappointments were Bacchanal who may have found the ground to lively for it, Behrajan never going well after a bad mistake at the 15th and pulled up. Once again it would have preferred slower ground and Shooting Light, raced wide by Tony McCoy and never going, being pulled with a circuit to run. It was said to be lame afterwards. Florida Pearl jumped superbly but weakened from four out. I'm in the camp that says that it would have been better off in the Queen Mother Cup. It could have been its year. With Moscow Flyer and Seebald in likely opposition next time it will be harder.

Florida Pearl, gained compensation in the Gd2 Martell Cup at Aintree on April 4, with Lord Noelie breaking a blood vessel,however, it did not have much to beat. It followed up with a Gd1 win over Native Upmanship 149 in the Punchestown Heineken Gold Cup on April 24. It was the best horse in the race. The time was ordinary so we learnt nothing new about its abilty to stay a truly run 3m 2f.

The Grand National produced an exciting finish between first and second, Bindaree and What's Up Boys but for Davids Lad falling and thereby causing the departure of Ad Hoc and Djeddah it could have been even more thrilling as all of these three were bang in contention and would have got the trip. As it was the finish was exciting because Bindaree who would have won by at least five lengths was not able to take clear advantage of its superiority due to the troublesome attentions of a loose horse (stable companion Beau would you believe), lost ground by being carried out wide at the canal turn and could not stride out for fear of being carried out or brought down. Richard Johnson on the runner-up did his best to take advantage having driven it to join the winner at the last it gained what looked like a winning 2 length advantage before the elbow. Jim Culloty on the winner had not been able to ask for anything before then, when he did so the response saw him unbelievably overhaul Johnson's mount and win going away by nearly two lengths. The runner-up has lost nothing in defeat conceding the winner 16lb. Of the three that came to grief 4out, my belief is that Ad Hoc would have been the greatest threat to the winner. It may be its turn next year. As it was Blowing Wind came home a distant third, it jumped well but did not get home. Kingsmark finished in fourth, according to its jockey, Ruby Walsh, losing its action after the Melling Road. It had been going well upto then.

Once again since the fences have been made easier, stamina is as important as jumping ability in winning this race now. Gone are the days when 2½ milers such as Gay Trip can win. In the circumstances Blowing Wind and A P McCoy (and Celibate, Noel Fehily in sixth) put up a commendable effort. The most troublesome factor that faces the race and organisers is deaths in the contest. This year two horses died as a result of falls, namely The Last Fling and Manx Magic both were well out of contention at the time and under normal circumstances, would more than likely have been pulled up. As there are no prizes for finishing out the first six it is a shame that so much emphasis and therefore pressure is put on getting round.

The King George VI Chase was slowly run (Some other Time-raters over-rated Maximize winner of the Feltham Novice Chase on the same card to boost the time). Best Mate who was ridden with a great deal of restraint was unable to overhaul Florida Pearl in what turned out to be a test of speed. At the same time giving credence to the claims of Florida Pearl's chances in the Queen Mother, (though dismissed by connections).

Looks Like Trouble's win in the John Bull Chase on January 19 showed it to be back near its best. At Wincanton it jumped well in what proved to be a weak race. The time was good because Seamus Durack kept it going when Whitenzo departed 3 out.

Tiutchev had an emphatic 12 length win, carrying 12st, in a 2m Handicap at Sandown on February 2. Unfortunately two weeks later it suffered another colic attack.

Shooting Light has gone from strength to strength this season since joining Martin Pipe. A winner of this season's Thomas Pink it improved on that performance when winning at Ascot. Did not perform at Cheltenham but at least its earned its corn.

Bacchanal had a comfortable victory in the Aon Chase at Newb on Feb 9. Mick Fitzgerald was not tally happy with its jumping and is hoping for improvement.Marlborough (147) looked threatening three out but could not sustain its challenge on its seasonal debut.

The Queen Mother Chase is normally one of the highlights of the jumping season this year's renewal fell far below the standard normally expected of the principals. Edredon Bleu, winner in 2000, would have had an outstanding chance if the overnight rain had not fallen. It made the early running but was never going at a strong enough gallop to put its rivals under pressure. Cenkos, its closest pursuer was not troubled at all, in fact it took up the running at the eighth. Edredon Bleu with a seemingly lacklustre AP McCoy on board dropped away tamely without a fight. Cenkos's kept the lead until 3out (10th), where it was headed by Latalomne, whose chance should have been affected by the ease in the going but was still travelling sweetly. Unfortunately this one crashed out at the next leaving Cenkos back in the lead once again. Flagship Uberalles who had barged its way around the track now looked a big danger. Richard Johnson was at his most persuasive and forced his mount up to lead after jumping the last. He never let up on the horse and it drew away to the line. Native Upmanship, who had never threatened to win ran on for pressure to take second away from Cenkos near home. Edredon Bleu, taken wide round the final turn, surprisingly kept on well for fourth heading Tiutchev near the finish. In doing so hardly giving the impression of a horse that had given its all in the early exchanges. The slow time for the race and the fact that Cenkos was not beaten far in third, supports that view, with the winner only doing 149. Tiutchev, had suffered a bad attack of colic in February. It made the line up, not surprsingly though it was not at its best. The way the race was run did not help either.

It may not have been a satisfactory race, the winner though did deserve to win a Queen Mother. Two years ago its time in just failing to win a Victor Chandler with top weight was 178. The going for the Queen Mother that season was particularly fast being won by Edredon Bleu in a course record time, rated at 172. For Flagship Uberalles who came third that day the going was far too quick. Overnight rain helped to adjust the record. Latalomne had every chance when falling, it is possible it might have won though I expect the ground would have taken its toll up the hill and it would have finished second at best. The ratings for the principals remain unchanged because of the slow time, in what has been a substandard year for the leading two milers.

Exit Swinger's 2m Handicap win at Newbury on Hennessy Gold Cup day was a revelation. The rain on the day meant that the ground was riding soft, it was always going well and won easily.

Exit Swinger put up a fine performance in the Grand Annual at Cheltenham on Mar 14. Obliged to come around the outside of the field on ground that was probably a little bit too lively. It kept on well for pressure just finding the task of pegging back Fadoudal Du Cochet (raced on the inside) too good for it. Had it been ridden with the same determination at Ascot in January it would surely have won the Victor Chandler.

Foly Pleasant continues on the up, its win against Lady Cricket in the Ladbroke Handicap Chase at Cheltenham on January 26 was the performance of the day. Will have a big chance of following up at the festival if there is some give in the ground. Lady Cricket improved on that effort by comfortably winning the Gd2 Game Spirit at Newbury on Feb 9, showing that she is as equally effective in a strongly run 2m chase. It is probable that the very testing going at Cheltenham previously, stretched her stamina. Sadly she is not entered for the Queen Mother in which she would have had a great chance.

The Mildmay of Flete, run a Cheltenham on Mar 13, featuring the above two was a competitive if not a particularly fast run event. The winner Blowing Wind did well to come from behind and get up (going away) near the finish from Lady Cricket. Having looked as if she had the race won her effort petered out close home. Her History suggests that she is best fresh. It could be that a strongly run 2m is more to her liking. A pity she was not entered for the Queen Mother this year. Foly Pleasant's run is best forgotten.

Carbury Cross beat a useful field of handicappers to win the 25f Handicap Chase at Aintree on April 5 by 18 lengths.

On the same day Native Upmanship 149 won a thrilling, if slightly substandard Gd1 Martell Melling Chase, from Wahiba Sands and Fadalko. The winner is probably at least a 156 but does not get many opportunities to put in a fast time as most decent chases in Ireland consist of small fields and are not strongly run. Tiutchev was again below par but did not get the best of rides here either. also Foly Pleasant ran well below its best but that was achieved on heavy ground.