Omar's Diary for Wednesday 15th March 2023

Man Servant was recounting how several years ago before the Cheltenham Festival became as big an occasion as it is now he went there with a friend from the hotel he was working in at the time. He couldn't drive but his friend and a car and said she didn't mind. They had a good run from Maidenhead on a cold morning. Just outside Cheltenham they stopped at a viewpoint overlooking the town and got out of the car to enjoy it.

While they were watching the view other people in the car park started shouting at them. They looked around and there was the car leaving the car park ahead of them...

How did we do yesterday?

My selections were and where they finished:

1330 IlTait Temps 5th

1410 Jonbon 2nd

1530 Constitution Hill 1st

1650 Sir Allen to win and Meatmorpheus EW

The profit and loss account after day 1:

Despite these results we are still standing and ready to take a tilt at the turf accountant's satchels. Or, in the case of Ticker, his glasses case where he keeps all the betting slips and cash. Let's be brave, let's be bold and have a go at three races again.

1330 the Ballymore Novices Hurdle worth £75,965 to the winner

There are ten declared runners at the time of writing with odds ranging from a very narrow 15/8 to 150/1. The favourite at 15/8 (Imapaire Et Passe) has had two outings this campaign and won in both so comes relatively fresh. So the combination of form, short odds and coming from a yard on fire, Willie Mullins, Imapaire Et Passe will my selection in this post luncheon race.

1410 Brown Advisory Novices Chase worth £102,095 to the winner

There is one horse that stands out here in this field of eleven. That is Adamantly Chosen. Has had seven outings so far this season and the results are 011522. Not the best bu what is significant is that he did not go through the usual entry channels and declaration stages but he was "supplemented" which means the connections decided almost at the last minute to enter him. He is my wild card choice for today and at the time of writing his odds were 20/1. backing him each way.

1450 The Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle worth £56,270to the winner

A field of 26 declared in this hurdle race run over 2 miles and five furlongs comprising of 10 jumps. With such a large field it is, in my opinion, always worth choosing a couple and backing them each way.

Captain Conby hasn't won this campaign but has shown consistency with "232" from his last three outings. That smacks of consistency achieved on ground very similar to the forecast going for today. One unit each way and the current odds are 11/1.

Benson As with Captain Conby, Benson's results from his last five outings of "22111" show a consistency evenif these have been over slightly shortewr distances than today's. One unit each way and the current odds are 14/1.

The saga of the errant car concluded

I expect you are wondering what happened to the errant car leaving a car park on a hill of its own volition. As this happened quite a while ago Man Servant was, how shall I say, more fleet of foot than he is these days. He did the best he could and managed to slow down the car's progress just enough for his companion to get herself into the driving seat and regain control.

As the Duke of Wellington is reputed to have said it was " a damn close-run thing".

Man Servant and his friend did not have any winners but they still had the car.