Should I Have Gone to Cheltenham? “ OU Can’T Live Your Life Introspective on Plane Rides
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22 \ Racing \ Cheltenham 2020 The Irish Field, Saturday March 21 2020 Cheltenham Festival 2020 Should I have gone to Cheltenham? “ OU can’t live your life introspective on plane rides. It’s partly in fear.” That’s what I saying goodbye to my son, my wife, my said as I packed my wool life when I leave, thinking about what suits, my Cheltenham could happen while I’m gone, if the overcoat, my camera, my trip is worth it, if days when I’m away stashed British pounds, override days when I stay. my press pass and left And on the journey home, it’s saying for England. goodbye to friends who I won’t see for YI repeated that mantra until it weak- another year, if we’re lucky. Sean ened, until it lost its levity. It began to sound trite, fl ippant, ridiculously out Cheltenham felt like the Clancy of touch. A week ago, I left for Cheltenham, last dance as the lights went ponders the coronavirus, at the time, was a down. Surreal. The mind concern, a hassle, a nuisance. Or so we volleyed back and forth. Are his thought…or so I thought. I left without fear. Trepidation, sure, but not fear. we being stupid or smart? decision In what has felt like a very short to travel and very long week, the heat has been I guess this is the simple nature of turned up, a virus on the rise, the travelling. When I leave, I wonder if to the world is a strange place. I should go. I come home, glad I did. The Masters, the Carolina Cup, Usually. This time, it’s different, we Festival my son’s Little League season, the are living in a strange, dystopian time. Dear Coronavirus, London Marathon, horse sales, horse Heathrow was eerie, the fear palpable You nearly spoiled Cheltenham and in the races, gatherings of any size are being as passengers trudged to destinations perhaps you should have. Each day, it postponed or cancelled or run behind unknown. Sneezes like lightning bolts. felt like the bear was gaining ground. shadow of closed doors. Italy is in lockdown, the Coughs, claps of thunder. In nearly 20 years of Cheltenham, I’ve Covid-19 stock market has plummeted, schools My wife, Annie, says I’m going into never felt such dread, such fear, such are closing, businesses pressured and self isolation in the guest room when impending doom as each day passed. stretched. I get home, away from her, away from The racing provided an escape, but Cheltenham felt like the last dance my son. I want to scoff, tell her she’s only briefl y, a bandanna in a blizzard. as the lights went down. Surreal. The overreacting, but can’t. Friday evening, we stood around the mind volleyed back and forth. Are we Should I have gone to Cheltenham Bathurst Arms in North Cerney, four being stupid or smart? Reckless or last week? Was this a barbaric move? friends, four pints, not a word uttered resistant? Brazen or bold? Deadly or An act of selfi shness? Have I put my- about the Gold Cup, knowing the world defi ant? self, and more importantly, them and was about to be very different. I write from an empty row on a others at risk? I’ll be content with the Please Go half-empty fl ight from Heathrow to memories, the moments, content with Dulles. Maybe, it’s just the plane ride. the decision to go to Cheltenham, only Or Springsteen weaving words and tell- when I know we are clear from an ing tales in his documentary, Western invisible virus that has the world reel- Dear Paul, Barry Geraghty kissing the trophy after Stars, which plays on the pullout ing, wondering, questioning. Actually, Congratulations on Indefatigable’s the Champion Hurdle \ Healy Racing. screen in front of me. content is too strong. Relieved is more win in the Martin Pipe and your fi rst Dear Barry, Some of us break down in hotel like it. win at Cheltenham. Five wins. I know I don’t have to tell rooms, weep on long car rides, fall Springsteen just fi nished with a Virgin No More you this, but appreciate it, relish it, apart when we see an old friend or three-word goodbye. “Travel safe, pil- savour it. You’ve battled back from inju- hear a favorite song. I get wistful and grim.” ries, like all jump jockeys. Dear Rachael, Dear Honeysuckle, Dear Steven, One day soon, you won’t have that You don’t ride like a girl. You don’t run like a girl. To own a horse like Goshen, to be desire to come back. Ruby, AP, Noel, so Impressed Impressed Twice standing there with a dream about to many of the greats have moved on lately Letters from America be realised, only to be snatched away and you’re still going strong. and then to have the wherewithal to Long May it Last Dear Jamie, Dear A.P, put your arm around Jamie, console Listen, you made a mistake, you Nice job consoling Jamie him and then to be bombarded by the probably should have sat still, you know on the way to the jocks’ room. press and calmly say, “It’s racing. It’s Dear Emma, that. Don’t let the trolls on social media Subtle and strong. jump racing.” Bravo. I loved your quote, “They’re not ma- bring you down, they do not represent Mentor Beacon in the Storm chines,” after Paisley Park’s defeat in the majority of the people in the world the Stayers. You’re right and thanks for who respect and appreciate what it the reminder. takes to get out there and do it, to put Dear Champ, Flesh and Blood your neck on the line, to put your skills Dear Mares Novice Hurdlers, That was awesome. I watched it next to the test. Concertista went that-a way. to a man and a woman I had never met, Dear Min, If Goshen doesn’t snag his hind hoof Domination when you hit the wire, we spun around You’ve been beaten once at two and on his front hoof, you’re still okay. You and rejoiced in shared delight. a half miles and that was by a neck to will be back. Goshen will be back. We hadn’t met, we hadn’t bet. That’s Politologue in the Mildmay. Brush it Off racing. Tripped Shared Experience Dear David, Dear Davy, You nearly pulled it off with The Gi- I’ve got a safe to crack, a bomb to dis- ant Bolster and now you have with The arm, an egg toss competition, can you Jamie Moore after Conditional. Down on his nose at the come over? Great to see you win three, parting company with second-to-last, he dusted himself off especially when leading home a trip- Goshen at the last in the like he had tripped over a curb and you paying trifecta in the Johnny Hender- JCB Triumph Hurdle have your Cheltenham winner. son Grand Annual. \ Healy Racing. The Little Guy Touched The Irish Field, Saturday March 21 2020 Cheltenham 2020 \ Racing \ 23 Cheltenham Festival 2020 March 10th-13th Dear Put The Kettle On, Dear Al Boum Photo, I was impressed with your And that makes two. They say pace and panache, even if I you don’t attract a following bet a straight exacta of Fakir and perhaps that’s true, but over Rouge Vif that would have I’ll bet three or four Gold Cups kicked my week into gear quick- will change that. See you at er than a Tuesday Guinness Tramore. and a winner in the Supreme. I Under the Radar looked back at your form after the race, yeah, I know, I know, Dear Paul, 20/20 hindsight, and realised how There will never be another strong it had been. Ruby Walsh … and there Tea is Ready may never be another Paul Townend. Big Shoes Filled Dear Jamie, At a Cheltenham Preview Monday night, Kim said you spun him from a call on Newtide to ride Ravenhill in the finale Tuesday, I guess I should have known. In hindsight, the 12/1 Put The Kettle On ridden by Aidan Coleman being led in by Stephen price was a gift, maybe send a Dunphy after winning the Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy bag of crisps and a note to Kim. Novice Chase \ carolinenorris.ie First Called Faugheen Dear Stewards, – the fans Did you take a look at Asterion For- recognise longe’s path in the Supreme? He racked when a up rivals like they were empty cups in horse lays it Guinness Village, outright knocking on the line two of them to the ground and certainly year after interfering with Heaven Help Us who year \ Healy finished seventh. Racing ’ll be content with the It wasn’t Paul Townend’s fault, one memories, the moments, the could argue it was the jockeys to the decision to go only when I right of a horse going right the entire know we are clear from an way who were at fault, but should As- invisible virus \ Healy Racing terion Forlonge been disqualified from fourth? Right Turn Clyde Dear Immigration, Not that I’m complaining necessar- ily, but I did expect some measures in Dear Dickie, place during a world pandemic. All Rough week. Rough season. You bat- international passengers at Dulles tled back from a broken arm to make descended into the same line, there Cheltenham and try to wrestle back wasn’t a quarantine area, nobody your championship from Brian Hughes.