St Patrick O'Hound

Runners and riders. A small field but quality not quantity. Graham and myself had spent most of the week enjoying the weather and watching the racing, Mike was off to a funeral tomorrow.

Now Siobhan and Gerry don't need many excuses to throw in some Irish themed questions; with St Paddy's tomorrow and in the middle of Cheltenham. So we braced ourselves, looked around nervously at the rest of the runners and riders....

And we're off! The first obstacle was this bunch of eejits.

Randomly perm Mary/Sinead or Dermot/Declan/Patrick with Murphy/Fitzpatrick/O'Connor and you'll get 2 or 3. we got 7 1/2, still not sure who number four is.

Current Affairs is always a tough obstacle. We got the Crufts winning dog and that Ed Sheeran would cameo in Game of Thrones but stumbled over whose stamps were being sent into space and the strength of that Cape Doctor.

Down the back straight and unsurprisingly round three would be "Ireland". Again not a 100% clean jumping display, not knowing what boxty is (again I think) or Ireland's all-time biggest musical act (U2, not Riverdance) but there were some accurate leaps over the identity of Rosemary Scanlon and who coined the name "Vanessa".

Next up would be the connections and that of "Dame" was bagged in two by yours truly, serene progress through this round. Ten pointers dispatched easily and it was halfway with one circuit complete. Judgement of the experts? Travelling nicely with plenty in hand but still in a leading group of 3 or 4 with no outright leader.

Out into the country on the 2nd circuit with the connections. Now, with apologies to David Coleman, the Hound started to open its legs and show its class. Champ was effortlessly linked to Pnhom Penh which flowed smoothly to Humble Pie. Sceptic brought it all back again and the Hound was starting to ask questions of the rest of the field. Onto the Jeopardy though and what's this? A rare stumble. We didn't know one of the gentlemen of Verona, let alone both of them? All of a sudden it was out of our hands. A non-existant bear trap was swerved regarding an 1815 battle and we levelled up into the home straight and the music round.

Expecting yet more Oirishness, the music actually played out well for us. Only Level 42 required a second listen to identify the song as we powered up the finishing hill. But was it enough? Relief all round when it was apparent nobody had nailed the jeopardy and it played out to a 5 lengths (points) win for the Hound. The Busters were a gallant second with The Anoraks having fallen at the Jeopardy, gambling on those Two Gentlemen of Verona.

Cue a hosing down with a celebratory pint/carrot depending preference and bring on the Gold Cup. One from my hols.

Slán leat