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Cheltenham

Day 2 of Cheltenham goes ahead as ill John McCririck vows to make return

The iconic, former Channel 4 man was hospitalised yesterday.

AFTER YESTERDAY’S THRILLING opening card, the second day at the Cheltenham Festival will go ahead as planned.

A precautionary inspection was scheduled for 8am, but clerk of the course Simon Claisse was able to give the second day’s schedule the go-ahead to the relief of organisers and racegoers alike.

Overnight temperatures dropped as low as minus 5C, but after the going was officially rated; ‘good to soft, soft in places’, Claisse told The Guardian:

“I had a look at the track and there is no sign of frost under the covers. It’s a bright morning, the sun is out and you can feel the difference from yesterday. Today is forecast to be mostly dry with a few showers and a temperature of 5C.”

Yesterday’s opening day action went ahead after just a delay of 35 minutes because of the conditions. Today promises much more familiarity, however, and renowned television pundit John McCririck insists he’ll be there too.

The Channel 4 star was hospitalised yesterday after he complained of feeling unwell.

“I didn’t collapse, as some people have said, but I felt all faint and woozy.” He told The Guardian yesterday. “I couldn’t stand and I started fainting, so they carted me in here and are doing all sorts of tests.”

McCririck’s agent later said that his client would indeed return to Prestbury Park as planned. If he does so, of course, he won’t be in front of the terrestrial TV cameras, having recently been dropped by C4 Racing. The one-time Big Brother contestant insisted he’d sue the station, claiming age discrimination.

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