‘The next few months are crucial'

Kim Bailey ponders a depressing Cheltenham Festival without owners

- Kim Bailey

LAST weekend saw some cracking jump racing. One of the reasons it was so good was the fact that the racecourses, sponsors and the British Horseracing Authority were quick-witted enough to reschedule meetings that fell by the wayside the weekend before, due to the awful weather.

We benefited from Warwick being restaged four days later when Two For Gold and Kyntara won there. Kyntara’s impressive win in the bumper gave my stable jockey David Bass his 50th winner of the season.

Newbury’s rescheduled Betfair on Sunday was certainly dazzling. The O’Neill father-and-son team must have been thrilled that the big hurdle race was restaged, as their Soaring Glory absolutely bolted up in the Betfair Hurdle – a well-conceived plan coming to fruition? It was son Jonjo’s biggest win for father Jonjo – and a great way to repay the school fees!