What we learned at Cheltenham: Ridiculously good, and getting better

To borrow from Brendan Behan, there are few situations in life ever made better by the arrival of a cliché - and one that never fails to get the teeth grinding is the awful ‘cheer up, there are only 51 weeks to go.’

Whether you are a child lamenting the passing of Christmas or a racing enthusiast disconsolate at the end of Cheltenham, it is exactly what you don’t need to hear. The pain is eased if you try to bank the lessons learned and by deciphering what they are telling you of times to come.

The overriding takeaway from the week is not a new one. Irish people are ridiculously good with horses and getting better all the time. That said, it would be rude not to pause and celebrate some of the excellence from the English side too. Nicky Henderson did brilliantly to get Altior well enough to win at the Festival for the third consecutive year and Buveur D’Air is a seriously good hurdler whose rise should now finally be decoupled from the deterioration of Faugheen. He joins a select list of multiple Champion Hurdle winners and does so completely on merit. Colin Tizzard’s judgment and skill to deliver Native River to win a compelling Gold Cup was a remarkable bookend to the meeting.