It's never too early for Cheltenham so here is my festival Yankee
Punters are getting fed up of the Flat, especially with the ground turning to mush everywhere, so now is the ideal time for a little Cheltenham catch-up.
Of the four Flat fixtures on Saturday at Newmarket, Limerick, Wolverhampton and York, only three outright favourites won. If that does not transform you into jumps mode, nothing will.
You might be surprised to hear the first bet struck with Paddy Power on last season's Champion Hurdle winner did not arrive until December 27. It was €2 each-way at 40-1. Espoir D'Allen was not even in their market on this day last year.
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- We know that times are tight - but racecourses really do need to step up and improve outdated weighing rooms
- The budget has heaped even more trouble on racing - and I fear many trainers will now decide the numbers just don't add up
- Why I think Cheltenham Festival handicaps need to change - JP McManus writes exclusively for the Racing Post
- No-one has ever emerged from the womb wearing a trilby - racing's future survival hangs on pursuing a young audience
- Four score and ten just a number to Peter Harris as July Cup triumph shows there's more to the elderly than medical conditions