Cheltenham Festival 2019: Matt Chapman looks back on an amazing four days at Prestbury Park

OMG. That’s all I can say about Cheltenham 2019. It had it all.

In sport so many times things are built up only to fall flat as a pancake.

Well no one can say that about what we experienced this week. It was sport - horse racing - at its very best.

From the drama of Buveur d’Air coming down, to the brilliance of Altior, to the joy of Bryony Frost and Frodon to the heart-wrenching story behind Sun Racing Stayers’ Hurdle hero Paisley Park and the eclipse of Faugheen the machine.

And that’s not to mention the Gold Cup hero Al Boum Photo. Oh where to start?

Well first I want to reflect on Altior, who at many times once again looked in trouble in the Queen Mother Champion Chase - especially when making a bad error at the water - only to pull it out of the fire.

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Altior is just a winning machine for Nicky Henderson, and he simply has that desire to come home first.

Let’s not forget his CV includes a Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, an Arkle, and now two Champion Chase successes.

And you know what? I’m more convinced than ever he’s not even a natural two-mile chaser.

Strange though it sounds, I believe Altior has been crying out for a step up in trip for about a year now, and hopefully we will see that next season in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.

His class brings him through over the minimum distance. Rather than his speed.

A word on Nico de Boinville, Altior’s jockey, who was a conditional when they first teamed up. Nico is a thoroughly decent guy. A fine rider. Just a good lad.

The Champion Hurdle was a mess, and do I believe the form? No I do not.

Espoir d’Allen simply hacked up for Gavin Cromwell and the brilliant Mark Walsh, and fair play to both.

But let’s face facts. Buveur d’Air tumbled out, Apple’s Jade appears hopeless at Cheltenham and also seemed to get very depressed when taken on by Melon, while Laurina was never going a yard. It was a bizarre event.

Thursday’s racing will go down as one of the most thrilling ever shown on ITV, possibly ever on TV.

As someone who has insisted Frodon should go in the Ryanair, I was delighted he scored under the sensational Bryony Frost for the former ten-times champion Paul Nicholls.

But I’m not gloating here. The way Frodon was taken on by Sub Lieutenant but still kept on up the hill suggests if he had gone in the Gold Cup he might well have been placed.