We experienced a frustrating time over the four days at Cheltenham. I felt my best chances were on the Wednesday but rain on watered ground changed the going to heavy and put paid to our plans.

The best thing was to not run Bravemansgame, McFabulous and Thyme White in those testing conditions and keep them fresh for Aintree. I pulled a couple more horses out on Thursday then Bob And Co fell at an early stage in the Hunter Chase on Friday.
That just about summed up our luck at the Festival. These things happen sometimes. You just have to take it on the chin and look forward rather than dwell on what might have been.
On Tuesday Bell Ex One ran a race full of promise on his debut for us in finishing well to take third place in the Boodles Four Year Old Handicap. He was unsuited by the steady early pace, was staying on strongly at the finish and is another who will be in our team at Aintree.
Unfortunately Frodon suffered a really bad cut to a hind leg when something jumped into the back of him in the Ultima Handicap Chase. He will have three weeks standing in his box and will not be running again this season. All being well he will return to Down Royal in November in a bid to repeat his great win in the Champion Chase.
On Wednesday Politologue bowed out with yet another creditable run at the Festival by finishing fourth in the Queen Mother Champion Chase. He has been an absolute legend for us, winning a Champion Chase, two Tingle Creeks, and over £1 million in prize money.
Politologue will return to his owner John Hales at the end of the season for his usual summer holiday and will then move to Dorset with Mike and Lucy Felton where he will join Big Buckson in retirement.
Two winners over the weekend took our score for the season to 122. With just over a month to go before the final day at Sandown it is a case of onwards and upwards as we gear up to have a big team for Ayr, then Aintree and all the good races in April.

For all the latest news on my Saturday runners please be sure to check out my Betfair column which goes live late on Friday afternoon.