Cheltenham Notebook
A TASTE OF HONEY TO GET A SEQUEL?
NO STOrY tugged at the heartstrings more this week than Honeysuckle’s glorious victory in the Mares’ Hurdle. Owner Kenny Alexander, whose filly Gala Marceau finished second in the Triumph Hurdle, had a wry smile when asked how he had spent the last few days. ‘Drinking and dancing,’ came the reply, with Alexander adding Honeysuckle’s bouncing demeanour since returning to Ireland was a little fresher than his own. And what a special mare Honeysuckle has been. Her last-gasp success, in her final race for trainer Henry de Bromhead, was so remarkable that it wouldn’t have looked out of place in a movie. And the idea that her story might end up on screen is not so far-fetched. ‘Netflix should make the series!’ said Alexander.
‘It was a fairytale, wasn’t it? She did the business, as I thought she would. I’ve still not come down to earth.’
AMONG the many conversations in the Cheltenham parade ring, there was none more intriguing than the one between the Princess Royal and Mary Berry, the queen of cookery, who chatted away as the runners filed around before the County Hurdle.
Both were thrilled to see Bridget Andrews ride the 33-1 winner Faivoir.
THYME UP FOR HARRY
PLENTY of judges thought Harry Cobden had seen a winner slip from his grasp on Wednesday after his mount, Thyme White, tumbled when seemingly travelling like a good thing. Fresh after winning the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle on Stay Away Fay, Cobden was happy to put to bed the theory he’d been unlucky. ‘You might have thought he was travelling well,’ said Cobden. ‘I’m not sure we were going to get up the hill.’ There you have it.
JAMES NESBITT comes alive at the Festival l and his horse Riverside Theatre gave him two of the greatest days of his life when winning the Ryanair Chase in 2012 and 2013. This is something Notebook (above right, with Nesbitt) can tell you with certainty! Nesbitt hosted the Ballon d’Or awards in Zurich in 2016 and spent two hours after it with a couple of us talking everything Cheltenham. He had no luck yesterday, having backed A Plus Tard, but he’ll be back — as will we.
ONE huge point to conclude — and the best result of all. No equine fatalities yesterday, even though there were some crashing falls. Malinello, sadly, was the only horse during the four days not to return home.