Team Wylie celebrate another Festival win.

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There was bad news for other National Hunt owners at Cheltenham on Thursday.

Graham Wylie has no intention of slowing down his recruitment drive.

Every exciting jumping prospect could catch his eye as the incredible jumping operation at Howard Johnson gathers pace.

Wylie now has 89 horses in training with Johnson in charge of nearly 150.

As long as the trainer can find space for new recruits, the owner will keep writing the cheques.

It has led Johnson to speculate on whether to reduce his farming commitments currently running at 1000 acres and 600 cattle.

At the time of the Foot and Mouth crisis, Johnson had to rebuild his stock.

It was a horrific period.

Now he is on top of the world.

To win three races at the Cheltenham Festival so early in their relationship is remarkable given that one was the Grade 1 feature of the day.

Then there is a host of two year olds to look forward to this summer.

In contrast Francois Doumen had to settle for second place again with Baracouda.

There were fears the powder keg would erupt afterwards with the press but not his time.

As always there was something to blame but not Tony McCoy as some had feared.

Doumen felt the early pace was too slow.

It did not seem that way to me with Westender and Knife Edge at the head of affairs but I will bow to his better judgement.

The show moves on to a historic fourth day and the totesport Gold Cup.

There was a growing sence of confidence from the Beef Or Salmon camp with Paul Carberry telling anyone who would listen that the horse is flying at home.

Connections of other leading fancies have been more concerned over the ground with a dry night and warm day forecast.

There was a sense of relief with the news that the taps will be turned on from Thursday evening.