Cheltenham Tue, 11th Mar, 2025  Golden Ace I couldn’t even dream that would happen. I’ve just asked someone to thump me because I must be dreaming, it is just bizarre. It’s a tragedy those horses came down and it spoilt the race entirely, we looked booked for second if not third but then State Man came down so it is marred by that, but the gods have favoured us. My owner was not at loggerheads (with me) because he pays the bills, but he was very keen to have a runner in the Champion Hurdle and we thought we could nick a bit of prize-money and we didn’t think we could beat Lossiemouth (in the Mares’ Hurdle) – it’s extraordinary how things work out. She is unbeaten here so she obviously likes the track. It’s interesting Willie tends not to run his mares much before Christmas so maybe that might be the way to go next year. Winning the Champion Hurdle is brilliant for the whole team, it’s amazing.