Dry your eyes mate

And people wonder why this game gets to us. What an emotional weekend we had.

Coneygree, running for the first time in over a year, rolled back the years with a gutsy third place giving weight away all round at Cheltenham. How much is that to do with the wind operation he had in the interim?

Frodon almost carried top weight to victory in the BetVictor Gold Cup but Baron Alco, on only his second start since March last year, made all to win the big race. His chase record now reads eight runs, three wins, four seconds, and a third. I am thinking he will get a bit of a hike in the weights now.

And then on Sunday Lalor won the Arkle Trial in impressive fashion pulling well clear of some decent rivals.

Racing fans will know of the story of Lalor’s trainer, Kayley Woollacott, who took over the licence after her husband, Richard, died so tragically at the age of forty. It was very emotional for all concerned and the stable have a horse who is a real contender for the Arkle in March.

Sent off odds on

The Morgiana Hurdle ended up with just four runners and Faugheen was sent off odds on favourite. But it was another Willie Mullins inmate who triumphed when the five year old Sharjah raced clear to beat ”The Machine”. The winner ran his best race ever on ratings while the former Champion Hurdle winner was below his top form but the youth of Sharjah means he could well come on again.

And to put the cherry on some already well iced cake it was announced that Enable will race on in 2019 and try for a third Arc victory. And not forgetting Derby hero Masar who is scheduled to return after injury.

My cup for the next twelve months will surely runneth over.