This is a subscriber-only article
It’s the second week in March and while my thoughts are focused on turnout, I’ve no doubt others will be focused on something else entirely ... Cheltenham.
The local mart will once again be gripped by a host of amateur tipsters, each one more willing than the last to tell you their ‘picks’.
“I have it from a friend of mine who knows the trainer they’re a shoo-in.”
“I’ve been keeping an eye on the form, they’re just peaking at the right time.”
More than one way to skin a cat
They say there’s more than one way to skin a cat and there’s definitely more than one way to navigate Cheltenham fever.
For The Dealer, that means keeping an eye on the farming horses.
Singlefarmpayment running in the 2.50 race today definitely caught my eye.
The horse’s Irish roots are expected to benefit from a strong dose of luck on St Patrick’s week.
I’m also reliably informed that Thistlecrack who races in the Gold Cup on Friday traces his name back to a 30-acre field in Yeovil in England.
The horse’s owners John and Heather Snook are beef and dairy farmers.
There must be some dairy influence for the Irish horse Ornua who runs in the 2.10 race today. Rachael Blackmore who's flying high at the moment and is from a farming background will be taking the reins.
SHARING OPTIONS: