A Refreshing Change

In a world in which the rich keep getting richer and life’s prizes are shared between an ever decreasing number (just think of Premiership football)-wasn’t it refreshing to see National Hunt racing buck the trend last weekend? I’ve nothing against Messrs Pipe and Johnson, but after their domination of the Cheltenham Open Meeting (yet again)-it was great to see the silverware go elsewhere: to Robert Alner- a man who embodies what the winter game is all about; to John Spearing- one of Britain’s most consistently underrated handlers and to the small County Limerick yard of Ned Mitchell. And after the tragic events earlier in the month, who could begrudge Henrietta Knight and Jim Lewis another victory in the Peterborough Chase? The very fact that such a wide range of owners and trainers can realistically dream of glory is what gives jump racing its enduring appeal - here’s to many more weekends like the last!