'I still love Cue Card completely – I'll look after him just like he'd won'
Stuart Riley spends time with those who have the strongest emotional bonds
The Cheltenham atmosphere is the stuff of legend but within the hallowed arena lies a small railed-off section at the end of the horsewalk where every emotion is magnified. It is the exact spot Might Bite is obsessed with running towards and it is not hard to see why – it is the place to watch racing.
It is from here that the grooms – those who beat dawn out the door every morning – watch the horses they love for the ten minutes they are not able to spoil them rotten. The emotions are extreme.
Two metres apart Holly Conte, who all but sleeps with Penhill according to Paul Townend, is breaking down in tears and spinning like a top not knowing what to do with herself while Chloe Angus, who ranks Sam Spinner above Mum and is mad in her affections, is among 16 others readying their brave face for their loved one’s return.
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
Published on 15 March 2018inReports
Last updated 20:16, 15 March 2018
Copy- A week that has had a bit of everything but Willie Mullins is still managing to break his own records
- Punchestown: 'He really comes alive with these cross-country jumps' - veteran Singing Banjo wins La Touche duel at the age of 14
- Teahupoo completes Cheltenham-Punchestown double but Gordon Elliott yard suffers 'heartbreaking' loss of Sire Du Berlais
- Redcar: 'My horses have turned a corner' - Paborus gives Ed Bethell his second winner of the week
- Ayr: 'She's the one I fancied out of the whole yard' - Zebra Star seals unexpected double for Mike Smith
- A week that has had a bit of everything but Willie Mullins is still managing to break his own records
- Punchestown: 'He really comes alive with these cross-country jumps' - veteran Singing Banjo wins La Touche duel at the age of 14
- Teahupoo completes Cheltenham-Punchestown double but Gordon Elliott yard suffers 'heartbreaking' loss of Sire Du Berlais
- Redcar: 'My horses have turned a corner' - Paborus gives Ed Bethell his second winner of the week
- Ayr: 'She's the one I fancied out of the whole yard' - Zebra Star seals unexpected double for Mike Smith