Cheltenham Diary: Trenchant teamwork proves a lifesaver after worrying wobble
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.After any victory, the winning trainer inevitably and quite rightly pays tribute to the unsung heroes of the game, those who look after horses day in, day out back home. But this week's best effort by the unseen brigade was on the racecourse; for the award step forward Mark Weeks and the staff from Alan King's stable, whose teamwork saved the life of the hurdler Trenchant. Though unplaced in the Pertemps Final, the five-year-old had given his all on the track and returned to the unsaddling enclosure staggering grotesquely in his exhaustion. Weeks and his colleagues almost bullied the gelding to stay upright, shouting to keep his mind focused and poured buckets of cold water over him until the crisis passed.
Bookies are the big winners
It's been a week when favourites were seldom first past the finishing post – and that means (surprise surprise) that the turf accountants were the biggest winners this Festival. If they relieved you of a substantial sum, you may like to know the total estimate of how much profit British and Irish bookmakers are said to have trousered (if you'd rather not know, look away now): £35m, in just four days.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments