I would like to say congratulations to Marten I bet when Marten started his business nearly 50 years ago and decided in 1979 to publish his first Cheltenham Bulletin Book he didn’t think he would still be self-publishing it 40 … Read More »

Cheltenham, Cheltenham Festival

I was wandering down Burgess Road in Southampton the other day, thinking about the long, hard winter of 1962-63. Racing was off for several weeks in the big freeze and one of the first winners when it resumed was Severn … Read More »

Hi there, Although the news that racing can resume on Wednesday was very welcome the BHA’s ruling that no entries will be accepted from horses that have not been vaccinated in the previous six months may extend the period of … Read More »

I am not an obsessive reader of obituaries, although every now and then they inevitably touch on events from my past. Like a lot of people, I glance at the bottom of the article to see how long the subject … Read More »

Hi there! We are normally seeking out the mudlarks in the first week of February, especially in Ireland, but the ground for the second day of Leopardstown’s weekend festival was changed to good, with good to firm patches, on the … Read More »

Cheltenham Trials Day Review 12.40 – JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle (2m179y) Irish raider Fakir D’oudaries elevated himself to the head of the betting for the Triumph Hurdle with an impressive 13 lengths success in the hands of JJ Slevin. … Read More »

I endured a long delay on the rattler on Thursday. Someone had cut through an overhead cable in the Ealing area, so the train manager, the chap we used to call a guard, told us. As I was only going … Read More »

Whilst I do not have major bets over jumps – nor anywhere else compared with a former life – Pink Gin was the start of a good mini-run, backed up by Keeper Hill and, although the price was short, Elusive … Read More »

Hi there! I am struggling to come to terms with the word ‘firm’ appearing in going reports at a time when we are usually racing in hock-deep ground. In fairness to the clerks of the courses the reports from the … Read More »

Your Donation Receipt Dear Marten, On behalf of the Trustees of Racing Welfare I’d like to thank you for your generous donation of £1,200.00 towards the work undertaken by the charity in support of racing’s workforce. It is donations from … Read More »

Traditionally there are already three warm favourites for the Cheltenham Festival’s three Grade 1 novice hurdles by this stage of the season. However this year appears to be the exception. That said, Nicky Henderson has been flexing his muscles in … Read More »

I have experienced a few days which can only be described as ‘mixed’.  By and large, Christmas went well and it was good to see the Canadian branch of the family  –  my daughter Catherine, her husband and the four … Read More »