Most cheered that the UK jumps season started (for me, anyway) at the weekend. Wishing all my fellow NH fans the very best for the season ahead.

Brilliant training performance by @johnwathenberry.bsky.social to get Dereham to land the 2m race at Newmarket for the 3rd time. Such a likeable horse.

That French Open final was truly epic.

@simonrowlands.bsky.social - Lambourn - stride pattern analysis strikes again! 👍

AOB saddling horses is like...ommm...catnip

Alright Bluesky - I'm getting married in the morning!

Having a lovely time, drinking red wine and drinking in Liverpool winning the league.

RP’s welcome! @steeplechasing.bsky.social @johnwathenberry.bsky.social @sheracing.bsky.social

Right - stop lurking Racing Bluesky. Give me 2 for the big race: Meetingofthewaters Hewick

Danny Mullins apparently chose Meetingofthewaters over Minella Cocooner.

#GrandNational Haphazard gleaning of GN fancies here sees Hyland, Hewick and Minella Cocooner emerge as the chosen ones this far...

#GrandNational - Currently making like Madame Defarge with her knitting, waiting for one to come out so Hyland can get in. Vive la révolution!

#GrandNational - Having a strange year as I don't really chime with anything at the head of the market. Got a couple of ante post (MoTW, Hyland) and added in Minella Cocooner. Wondering if there is a consensus - our official Bluesky GN candidate??

Rather chuffed to see Red Happy winning the Red Rum series at Carlisle and putting in a nice round of jumping as there were a few times (I don't know the reason) where he looked distinctly unhappy when he was with David Pipe.

@johnwathenberry.bsky.social Great run from Tarbat Ness! Well done Team Berry!

God bless you Mr Vango, you big slab of stamina! Nearly got put away by that going description, though, until I opened my eyes.

#Cheltfest @racingtales.bsky.social 5th Park of Kings #InNolanWeTrust

#CheltFest @racingtales.bsky.social In Nolan We Trust #DailyPresent

Rich Ricci - what have you done???

We all know there are some mighty races coming up this week, none more so than the 15.20 at Stratford, featuring the entertaining Golden Maverick. Step back in trip and drying ground a bit of a worry, countered by first time blinkers. He's in rude health though. Avanti Mav!

Thanks to the absolute scumbag who's just tried to defraud my bank card via eBay. Now, no bank card on Cheltenham Eve, FFS.

#CheltFest - Contra mutterings, the holistic view of the NH Chase says that Resplendent Grey needs Sean Bowen more than Haiti Couleurs does.

#CheltFest - like the Tibetan Plateau, lots of yak to be had in the Previews. Frustratingly, never enough on Handicaps, which are not called 'the betting races' for nothing! Hmph!

Even before the weights came out, two horses I thought were having an obvious mooch around the XC course on visits prior were Busselton and Coko Beach, the former being the more ground-versatile.

Greetings from Kempton

That did not look good for Minella Sixo in the first at Haydock. Any news?

Happy Grand National weights day! Thought Meetingofthewaters off 10-7 at 33s has been rather overlooked in the swathe of green and gold. Would be rather chuffed if Danny Mullins got the leg up again.

Oh my god. I have just recovered from watching the 3.30 at Carlisle, with this time the beloved Golden Maverick snatching victory out of the jaws of defeat. Can't say it looked likely for most of the race, but the big engine got going in the long straight. The emotional roller coaster drives on!

Quick turnaround recovery mission for the one and only Golden Maverick today in the 15.30 at Carlisle. Described by Timeform as 'temperamental but talented'. Hoping the run doesn't come too soon and the visor works again for this drop down in trip.

Today's Edinburgh National at 14.25 looks an absolute smasher. Grap a cuppa and enjoy!

Good one from Graham Cunningham's Sporting Life column: 'an Iroko is a large African hardwood and legend has it that any man who cuts one down brings devastating misfortune on himself and his family'.

Seanh Bowen's ride on Moon D'Orange had everything. Would be on my shortlist for ride of the season.

Golden Maverick went clear approaching the last and definitely on course for a win, then hit the last, nose hitting turf, all momentum lost, paddling paddling, comes home 4th. Defeat snatched from the jaws of victory.

Eyes down for the 2.52 at Ayr, featuring the newly-visored Golden Maverick. Trip, ground, track, field size should suit. Looking for Sheehan to be a bit handier than previously and to wind up the engine on the long straight. On this outing, I'll feel some deflation if he's out of the first 2.

Well done Mr Vango!! Lovely big old plodding mudlark. Love him.

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DEADLINE TOMORROW. Join this fun little sporting predictions competition for 2025. - £10 entry, all into a prize pot - Predict the winners of big events in 2025 Grateful for RTs. @lydiahislop.bsky.social @sheracing.bsky.social @honestfrank.bsky.social gwdihwracing.substack.com/p/sporting-p...

Is there no other music?? Players at Anfield walking out to the Cheltenham walking in theme.

The Yellow Clay - can't escape the thought someone got caught short in a pottery.

In retrospect, he probably worded this very carefully, but it does leave a bit of a wrinkle (perhaps only with me) when Darren Yates, as they say, gave it the large and the impression about not selling The New Lion, when in fact he was already in the process of doing so.

Afternoon all, I trust you are all well and are now back in your normal routines, it's taken me until today. Ok today we have 2 closed 2 current of which 1 is Irish. The answers will be at 6.30pm all Likes Guesses and Reposts are always appreciated Thank you Enjoy

FFS Chepstow. Feeling very sorry for the Golden Maverick posse who were on course.

Sheehan rides again! Re-routed from Plumpton, Gav and Mav team up at Chepstow.

Plumptoff. Poor show that after declaring it was on.

The beloved and talented, but a bit lazy, Golden Maverick, runs at Chepstow today. He was 11/1 yesterday, but has come in to 6/1 (4 places). The visor goes on. Trip and ground should suit. Strong Sam Twisters on board, which is great.

I've set up what I hope will be a fun sporting predictions competition for 2025. - Predict who will win key sporting events in 2025 - £10 entry - Prize pot for first five places - Entries by 13th January All the details here: gwdihwracing.substack.com/p/sporting-p...

Well, that was a bit of alright from The New Lion.

[Space reserved for self-satisfied 5/1 Gold Cup ante post on Galopin does Champs]

'Statement hat'. Yes, if the statement is that you've got more money than sense.

Ooh Sir Gino!