Cork's Noel Fehily hungry for more Cheltenham Festival glory
Jockey Noel Fehily after winning the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle Race with Summerville Boy at Cheltenham in 2018. Picture: Seb Daly/Sportsfile
Cheltenham winning jockey Noel Fehily is gearing up for the festival with relish as his hugely successful syndicate hope to have several runners over the biggest four days of the jump season.
The West Cork native was a brilliant rider and boasts six winners around the famed Cotswolds venue including two Champion Hurdle victories aboard Rock on Ruby and Buveur d’Air while his winning ride on Special Tiara in the Champion Chase was a masterclass from the saddle. Back-to-back victories aboard Silviniaco Conti in the King George cemented his place in racing history as one of the greats of the game.
Following his retirement in 2019 he joined forces with his weighing room colleague David Crosse, and they launched the hugely successful Noel Fehily Racing which has gone from strength to strength.
“Everything has gone well with the racing club, and we have about 40 horses in training right now. Our colours have the red and white for Cork and the blue and gold of Tipperary as Crosse is from there and they are distinctive.
"We hope to have about eight runners at Cheltenham depending on what gets into the handicaps. Ground conditions could do with drying out over here in England, but we’ve had a couple of nice days this week.
"It’s an amazing track as two fine days will turn the going to good ground. Everyone is buzzing as Cheltenham is the highlight of the jump season and the racing is so competitive.
"He’s a big e/way player at around 10/1. Baron Noir has an e/way chance in a very hot Supreme which gets the festival underway. Ace Of Spades is in the Pertemps and another e/way player but our best chance of a winner is Ryans Rocket. We think he can run a huge race, but you need plenty of luck in running around Cheltenham.”
The opening Supreme Novice Hurdle looks a very good renewal this season with a strong Irish challenge taking on the leading British candidate and favourite Old Park Star. The Fehily team will be represented by Baron Noir who boasts good form after beating El Carios at a bumper at the Punchestown Festival last May.
“Baron Noir is a lovely horse who is certainly a big price at 33/1. A better race will suit him, and we are hopeful of a big run. We bought El Carios for David Maxwell, and he won his point-to-point, so I know plenty about him as he was here with me for six months on the farm.
"He is a very fast horse and Gordon Elliot and Jack Kennedy hold him in very high regard. But Old Park Star represents the Nicky Henderson team and he looked exceptional at Haydock and is a worthy favourite.”
The Championship races begin with the Champion Hurdle and the withdrawal of Constitution Hill has certainly created a lively debate.
"The New Lion might come into the picture now while Golden Ace is another who might give the English an advantage here.
"The Champion Chase looks between the top two in the betting, but Marine Nationale really does need good ground. Majborough has had his jumping issues too. The Stayers Hurdle looks open, but I like the Nicky Henderson runner Impose Toi if he gets a bit of nice ground.”
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is the highlight of the week and looks an absolute belter this year. The all-conquering duo of Willie Mullins and Paul Townend are looking to reclaim their crown with Galopin Des Champs who was denied a third consecutive victory by the JP McManus owned Inothewayurthinkin last year.
The English challenge looks strong with the King George winner The Jukebox Man who is owned by soccer legend Harry Redknapp. Welsh National winner Hauti Coleurs is a relentless galloper and the Jimmy Mangan trained Spillane’s Tower who does need soft in the ground to even take part. It looks a cracking renewal.
“It goes without saying that I would love to see Jimmy win it with Spillane’s Tower. He won well the last day but needs a cut in the ground and I think the ground might start to dry out over here. Galopin Des Champs still ticks a lot of boxes and Willie Mullins will have him cherry ripe on the day. He’ll do for me.”
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