Sir Alex Ferguson’s involvement in the purchase of Caldwell Potter is a great thing for British Racing.
That’s according to legendary jockey Richard Johnson who was speaking exclusively to us here at BoyleSports.
Johnson also chatted to us about Caldwell Potter’s chances at Aintree, the positive impact that Harry Redknapp is having in horse racing plus more.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s Purchase of Caldwell Potter Good For British Racing
People say that it’s crazy paying that much for a jumper, but he was a Grade One performer already. Sadly, everyone knocks it when someone pays that kind of money for a horse and the same happens when we get Irish winners.
In Britain, we need to be paying that much in order to compete with the amount of Irish winners at present - you need your Sir Alex Ferguson’s, your Ged Mason’s. We need those owners to find that class of horse to compete in the Grade Ones, we should be delighted.
We should celebrate the fact that these figures want to be involved in our sport, football is the sport he was amazing in, but he loves his racing.
It’s great to see those figures around the sport, it’s great to generate media interest to lift our sport and will encourage more similar figures into the world of racing.
We should be delighted that he has bought the horse, otherwise he would have stayed in Ireland and likely been beating us.
Caldwell Potter’s Aintree Chances?
It’ll be interesting to see, I think Paul Nicholls will be thinking it's a good chance to give him a run. When you change countries, it’s quite hard for horses to fit straight into a new regime.
I think he will run really well, but I just wonder whether it will be hard for him to perform to the required level to win the race. He is a very good horse, and he has the pedigree to go with it that suggests in the future he is going to be a really good chaser.
I’m delighted that they have got him, and he’s a horse that we will hopefully be talking about for years to come.
*Caldwell Potter is the 4/1 second favourite for the Mersey Novices' Hurdle on Saturday at Aintree per the latest horse racing odds at BoyleSports.
Great To Have Harry Redknapp Owning Horses
Harry Redknapp had an amazing Cheltenham, with a couple of horses running really well. To have characters like that, even if he was a successful football manager, he is a lovely person as well.
You always get people enjoying his company. We are all delighted that he is involved, but also the fact that he is doing well.
The Stars Come Out For The Grand National
There were always footballers there, with Liverpool and Man United so close by - obviously, if they’re playing that day will determine if they can make it or not!
You get a lot of people around, you might notice them when you’re walking in. There’s a really fun atmosphere around Aintree, particularly on the Saturday - they have worked really hard to build-up the three days.
I think, when I started riding it was still a great and fun meeting but the quality wasn’t where it is today. You still had the Grand National, but the other races were just making up the numbers, nowadays the quality puts the event on a par with Cheltenham.
*Bet on the big race at Aintree with our Grand National odds at BoyleSports.
Constitution Hill’s Absence A Shame
With the quality of all the racing, it’s a shame that we won’t see him after he missed Cheltenham. Regardless, it’s great to see a lot of horses turning out post-Cheltenham, you’ve got proper Grade One horses turning out.
Cheltenham doesn’t suit a lot of horses, which means that they can target Aintree instead where the course might be more in their favour. Many will miss Cheltenham if they don’t like an undulating track and Aintree is far flatter, being more suitable for certain horses.
*Prices are subject to fluctuation.
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