Starting in 2020, if Paul Townend has had to make a Festival decision as to which of WPMs to ride, he is 50 from 73 to get on the correct one. Rising to 30 from 35 if he rides the WPM fav. Have given him Galopin in the Turners. Thought it only fair.

From 2020, when Paul Townend picks the WPM Festival fav, no other WPM horse he could have chosen to ride has won the race. However, I'll go to the grave convinced that Melon bt Samcro. Giving Sir Gerhard 2021 Bumper a bye ball. Only with them a fortnight.

Friend did an A1 experiment for Cheltenham winners. Gave Constitution Hill (nap), Jonbon and Galopin Des Champs. Treble is at least 7/2, may get bigger.

The last horse to do the Baring Bingham/Broadway double was The West Awake in 1988. To be fair to Ballyburn, Sir Gerhard 2023 has been the only one to give it a go since First Lieutenant went close in 2011. Others tempted by Turners, Arkles, Ch Hurdles.

No love for a 5 yr old in the Stayers. This century 11 have run, five finished in the first four, the last being the wonderful Smad Place in 2012. The other four came here from winning a Grade 2 three miler. Go Rocky's.

Mr Jim Dreaper on The Road To Cheltenham. You could listen to that all night.

A gentle reminder. gaultstats.com is touching 2k in donations to IRISH INJURED JOCKEYS. My thanks to those who have already given. Hoping to push on over the 3k mark. Approaching peak Gstats time. Have a great week, one and all.

The National Hunt Chase has lost its soul imho. We may have a full field for this 0-145 handicap but no one was ever going to really jock up any amateurs after the conditions changed. Sad, for me.

No QM winner since at least 1990 wearing headgear. Those of us clinging to the hope that Solness can overcome this particular burden may take solace in the fact that in the last 10 yrs, four horses wearing some sort of headgear have finished second.

It's time. Time to enter the parallel universe. You will see people in the street this week not carrying a folded up RP, unconcerned about the merits of first time cheekpieces. Be gentle on them, they're not having as much fun as you are. Have a good one.

Lossiemouth on the drift.

Imho if today's racing taught us anything, it is that there are definitely not enough top class mares for a Festival G1. Apart from that, I wish I was in Spain. No, only joking.

youtube.com/watch?v=YYkrip… Minutes 37 to 40 on the Pertemps. Thank you Ross Ross Brierley. One of my career highlights watching the great Tom Segal reach for his paper to check a stat. 😀

People laugh at me, you know.

They say that bookmakers drive big cars...

gaultstats.com €3277 donated towards IRISH INJURED JOCKEYS. Thanx. You are all very kind. Hope you were all on Doddiethegreat with his tongue tie. Really enjoyed this Festival so might be reconsidering my decision to stop. Will keep you informed.

Undoubtedly one of the most enjoyable interviews I’ve done… David Christie on his journey with Winged Leader to level the most races won between the flags p2p.ie a 15yr relationship & friendship with Barry O Neill that has never seen a crossed word David Christie #history #legend

A mess. Wins by over a length. Photos being taken in unsaddling and bookies had all paid out when enquiry announced. Punters had thrown away tickets, getting off buses to come back in on reversal. Got to be better run.

bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0l… Not half bad, I thought. Hope you like it.