Alan Brazil finally found at Cheltenham as talkSPORT Breakfast host gives classic explanation for Friday no-show
Good news talkSPORT listeners, Alan Brazil has been found safe and well at Cheltenham, and was just in time for the Gold Cup!
The talkSPORT Breakfast host and broadcasting legend was headline news on Friday after going AWOL and missing his show on the final day of the festival.
And the story is pretty much what you expect, as the former Manchester United and Ipswich Town striker admitted he was ‘cream crackered’ after a long week and big night on the town.
Jamie O’Hara vowed to track down Mr Brazil at the Gloucestershire course, but instead it was long-time talkSPORT colleagues Paul Hawksbee, Andy Jacobs and Charlie Baker who found the Scot in one of his favourite places on earth.
It’s a good thing we’ve got a decent stable of radio stars to cover him, with Virgin Radio’s Chris Evans opening Friday morning’s show in his place before handing over to Shebahn Aherne, who was later joined by regulars Ray Parlour and Dean Saunders.
Why did Big Al miss Friday morning’s show? He was shattered… it appears '50 pints of Guinness' can do that to you.
But that didn’t stop him from being there to witness more success for Willie Mullins as Galopin des Champs won the Gold Cup for the second year running.
Speaking live to Hawksbee and Jacobs before the big race, Mr Brazil explained: “Listen, I was just cream crackered, really really tired.
“You might say I’ve overdone it, but we did come down Sunday. Normally I just do Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, but this week it was Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday.
“There were some fancy odds with the bookies that I would miss Friday, and when you do your money in the first couple of days you’ve got to get it back, so I backed myself not to do the show today!
“I heard them today, slagging me off on the radio - don’t worry about that. I thought Shebahn did a great job as well.”
Reflecting on his week at Cheltenham, with his time split between the Coral box and the Guinness Village, Big Al added: “It’s great, but it’s just a long week now.
“My left knee is really bad, really bad - I’m not sure about my liver, but it’s just a tiring week.
“And also - and I’m not making excuses here - but last week my chest was going a bit, I felt a bit tired, so I knew there was something coming.
“But you meet so many nice people, your voice goes a bit, and when you meet the punters, trying to get out of here takes you an hour and a half. The people are so nice, the people who listen to talkSPORT are amazing and how nice they are, so I had to come back here today.
“I’m privileged, never mind those two numpties in the studio, I’m very, very privileged, I love Cheltenham, it’s the best of the year.
“And the Guinness - I’d never had Guinness until I came here, and to have 50 pints in a week is a bit strong… but you’ve got to put a performance in!”
All that hard work deserves a holiday, right? Well, the big man certainly doesn’t disappoint…
“I’m just looking ahead to Sunday - I fly out to the French Alps.
“I’ve got a nice week out there… and by looking at me you’ll know I’m not skiing, I’m lunching!”
