Melrose Boy suffered colic in his box on the way down to Sandown on Saturday.

The travelling staff were quick to call me and make me aware of the problem as well as ringing the vets at the course who acted quickly to treat him on arrival.

He was then able to travel home just a couple of hours later and was none the worse for wear.

Obviously it’s frustrating that it happened on the morning of a big race but we’re relieved he’s OK.

He had a canter on Sunday and he might end up getting in the Martin Pipe on Friday, you never know. If he doesn’t get in that then there’s always the consolation race at Kempton on Saturday.

Heavy ground Cheltenham Festival

It looks almost certain to start on heavy ground after all the rain on Sunday night and further showers on Monday.

I can’t see it drying out much before the first race on Tuesday and I’m now hoping conditions stay pretty much as they are, particularly now we’ve got American  in the Gold Cup on Friday.

While trainers have been readying their better-ground horses for the Festival, it will be those that have been running around and enjoying the mud that will now come to the fore over the next four days.

Thoughts on Tuesday’s races

You’ve got to look for horses that go in the ground and I think it’s a real positive for Saint Calvados  in the Arkle.

I was very impressed with him at Warwick on his last start and I think he’d be my bet of the day if I was having one.

Time has certainly flown by since I trained Rock On Ruby with Paul Nicholls to win the 2012 Champion Hurdle.

This year, it looks like Buveur D’Air’s to lose.

It would be great to see the Faugheen  of old as we need one to come and make a race of it.

At the moment, the rest of the field are all just running for second place and he’s the one horse who could give the favourite a race.

Connections of Getabird  are probably relieved that the Supreme will be run on soft ground as he’s got good form in the conditions.

Elsewhere, Kalashnikov  won at Newbury in testing ground and I also think Summerville Boy , who beat Kalashnikov in the Tolworth, has been kept fresh for this and it wouldn’t surprise me if he went very close.