New names and an unexpected fan favourite salvage a damp festival feeling
Tom Peacock looks back at some of the week's talking points
Jeremy Scott surely wouldn’t be anyone’s idea of an obvious cult hero. The restrained, unpretentious former dairy farmer is the kind of man you might meet at a stile when out walking on Exmoor, who would let you make a fuss of his dog and tell you something interesting about the surrounding countryside.
If this sounds in any way patronising, it is intended to illustrate how surreal it was at Cheltenham to see him incarnated as Michael Van Gerwen, serenaded with the same rowdy chanting of his name to the Dutch darts idol's Seven Nation Army theme tune by 30 or so adoring fans before he punched the air and rushed over to be embraced by them.
The victory of Scott’s Golden Ace in the Ryanair Mares' Novices' Hurdle had been one of the highlights of a Thursday which had brought the meeting back to life.
Read the full story
Read award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing, with exclusive news, interviews, columns, investigations, stable tours and subscriber-only emails.
Subscribe to unlock
- Racing Post digital newspaper (worth over £100 per month)
- Award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing
- Expert tips from the likes of Tom Segal and Paul Kealy
- Replays and results analysis from all UK and Irish racecourses
- Form study tools including the Pro Card and Horse Tracker
- Extensive archive of statistics covering horses, trainers, jockeys, owners, pedigree and sales data
Already a subscriber?Log in
- Queen Camilla to become new patron of Thoroughbred Breeders' Association
- 'When he gets them in foal, he's capable of getting very good ones' - how Darley and breeders are making the most of Farhh
- Impressive Newbury winner Mr Chaplin gets Newsells Park sire Without Parole off the mark
- 'We hope this will be a fitting tribute to honour her legacy' - Marble Hill Stakes to be run in memory of Theresa Marnane
- 'He was a wonderful horse and beautiful to train' - tributes paid to Native Upmanship after death aged 31
- Queen Camilla to become new patron of Thoroughbred Breeders' Association
- 'When he gets them in foal, he's capable of getting very good ones' - how Darley and breeders are making the most of Farhh
- Impressive Newbury winner Mr Chaplin gets Newsells Park sire Without Parole off the mark
- 'We hope this will be a fitting tribute to honour her legacy' - Marble Hill Stakes to be run in memory of Theresa Marnane
- 'He was a wonderful horse and beautiful to train' - tributes paid to Native Upmanship after death aged 31