Alex Hammond reflects on the highs and lows of the Cheltenham Festival

With the dust now settling after a magnificent four days at Prestbury Park, we have all had time to reflect on horses that won, horses that lost, magnificent training performances, magnificent riding performances, desperate ground conditions and possibly what we are looking forward to in 11 ½ months time (I’m not joking, it’s the highlight of my racing year!).

Here are five thing to reflect on as we wave goodbye to another Cheltenham festival.

1: Equality

I’m not going to get all heavy on you here, but I was greatly cheered to see the female jockeys making their mark on the meeting. A recent study has projected that it will take well over 200 years before we achieve complete gender equality. Sad times indeed. In the meantime the gap seems to be closing slightly faster on the track with polished performances from Lizzie Kelly, Katie Walsh, Bridget Andrews and Harriet Tucker to add their names to the list of jockeys fortunate to enter the hallowed winners' enclosure on horseback.

It wasn’t to be for rising star Bryony Frost this year but she is already a Festival winner and more will surely follow. Let’s hope the momentum gained recently continues to build as the aforementioned (and many other talented riders) have proved to be as tough, strong and talented as their male counterparts.

PS. What a gem Pacha Du Polder is to keep performing as consistently as he does on the big day. He must be a pleasure to have anything to do with.

2 – Profit (and some loss)

The week was kind to me and hopefully you have all had a successful meeting too. The first two days went swimmingly, with my punting highlight coming courtesy of Vintage Clouds’ third place finish in the Ultima Handicap Chase and Rathvinden’s brave win in the National Hunt Chase.

Tiger Roll’s victory in the Cross Country Chase was Wednesday’s best result, supplemented by Elegant Escape’s third in the RSA and a couple of short priced winners. Things got harder on Thursday and Friday, but I finished the week on top and had a lot of fun along the way.

3 – Aeroplanes

Where to start here? The likes of Samcro, Buveur D’Air, Laurina, Altior and Footpad all justified short prices and providing they stay fit and sound should be back for more in the championship races next season. Samcro was the hype horse coming into this year’s meeting and he lived up to it. I don’t think there has been a horse with such potential for a good few years and he looks top class whatever route Gordon Elliott and owners Gigginstown House Stud decided to take with him. I think I’d like to see Samcro go chasing next season with a tilt at the Gold Cup in 2020 the long term plan, when he’ll be nine-years-old.

Sky Bet have priced up a market for certain horses to win any race at the 2019 Cheltenham Festival and most of the aforementioned are listed. Incidentally, Samcro is 7/1 with the firm to win the Arkle next season; tempting if your nerves can take the uncertainty. It seems insane to be backing horses for a meeting that is almost a year away, but the carrot is being dangled.

4 – Ante-post also rans.

There were a few horses that caught my eye in defeat that I hope can step up to the plate in future; potentially on better ground than they had to deal with last week. Douvan falls into that category, although his ability to stay sound has become a worry. He was running a superb race until his fall four fences from home in the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase, so I hope he can stay sound and have a chance to become a champion once again next season.

Terrefort is a smashing individual and ran well to be second in the JLT Novices’ Chase behind the mare, Shattered Love. He’s 25/1 for next year’s Ryanair but could have current Ryanair champion Balko Des Flos to contend with there. Terrefort will win some nice races all being well.

I’m not writing Stayers’ Hurdle fifth Sam Spinner off going forward and whilst he probably wouldn’t have won with a more aggressive ride, he may have been a touch closer and will be older and wiser next season. Don't write him off. He ran a lovely race for the O’Keeffe stable.

Finally, of all the beaten horses, I’m possibly most keen on Santini, who would have appreciated better ground but still ran a cracker to be third in the Albert Bartlett on the final day. Nicky Henderson’s staying novice was the winner of his only start in an English point-to-point in March last year and has the frame to make up into a smashing chaser.

He had only run twice under rules (over hurdles) before his outing last week and there are reasons to believe he could be very smart when he jumps a fence in future. He is 8/1 with Sky Bet to win any race at the 2019 Cheltenham Festival.

5 – The Gold Cup.

I can’t talk about the Festival without mentioning my favourite race of the year. Although, to be fair it should be one of my least favourite after I deserted Native River, feeling there was more ‘value’ to be had with Road to Respect. You should sometimes go with your first instincts and once Sizing John was out and conditions weren’t going to be anything other than testing, I jumped onto Native River. However, when his price seemed a bit too short, I swapped my allegiance and was left to rue that decision as he outstayed Might Bite for a famous win.

As for next year, there’s another big name or two to throw into the melting pot. Presenting Percy was awesome in the RSA Chase and is now 6/1 joint second favourite with Sky Bet for the 2019 Gold Cup. Can you imagine what that race might deliver with Native River, Might Bite, Presenting Percy, Sizing John and potentially Balko Des Flos all in the frame? It’s time to dream again.

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Related horse racing links

• Free horse racing betting tips
• All today's racecards
• Today's fast results
• Today's full results
• Non-runners
• Today's Goings
• Today's Naps Table
• ABC Guide
• Sky Bet's horse racing odds