Cheltenham

I have been inactive both in posting and betting for a while as I have been shut out of my Betfair account.

I do not believe this to be bad luck as, speaking to another punter who was shut, he believed it done by Betfair who do not make money from those who win and retain their money.

With some difficulty I downloaded a new betting app – Betway – and exacted my revenge on the betting industry by only having the one tickle on Galopin des Champs for the Cheltenham Gold Cup who, despite a loose horse, romped home.

When it comes to Cheltenham, and indeed most horse racing, I am very much in the “watch it at home” school.

I have been invited to Cheltenham in my time. I do not care for the boorish drunks nor the difficulty in getting away.

You get a better view on TV, you are not exposed to the worst excesses of human behaviour and you can avoid the footballers who seem to love this event.

Oddly enough, as Cheltenham and the Cotswolds are quintessentially English, the accent in every sense is Irish. English trainers rarely feature as serial winners and Willie Mullins ruled the roost.

Although yesterday was a sell out with 68,500 racegoers, attendances have been significantly down because of greedy hoteliers, bad weather and the cost of living crisis impacting upon on all except footballers.

The Gold Cup does not pose the same challenge as the Grand National with its easier fences.

ITV’s coverage was okay, but their main cast was ex-jockeys like A. P. McCoy, Ruby Walsh and Mick Fitzgerald who are not that impressive as broadcasters.

At least one is spared the fashionistas, but not – alas – the celebrity watch.