Gainford: Im really excited about it now to tell you the truth

Jordan Gainford will make his Cheltenham debut on Friday when he teams up with the Katy Price-trained Clondaw Rigger in the Ryman Stationary Cheltenham Business Club Amateur Riders Handicap Chase on the opening day of the new season at the course.

The 18-year-old made a big impression in his first season between the flags, winning three races since his debut at Boulta last December, having received notable support from champion handler Colin Bowe, who he is based with full time.

“David O’Connor, who used to work in Colin Bowe’s, rang me on Monday and put me in touch with Katy (Price). She rang me on Monday evening to see if I could do the weight, to claim 7lbs of 10-6 and would it be okay to come over, so I registered with the BHA on Tuesday and booked my flight,” said the Wexford native who enjoyed his first success under rules when partnering Bowe’s Cushinstown Finest to victory at Downpatrick in September.

“She has told me that he is a good lepper and stays going all day. He is supposed to be a lovely ride so hopefully we will have a good spin.

“I’m really excited about it now to tell you the truth. We’ll see how we are when we arrive over there in the morning, it might be a different story but for now I’m really looking forward to it.”

Bred by Carlow Farmers point-to-point secretary Gill Browne, Clondaw Rigger started his career by winning a four-year-old maiden at Borris House by 15 lengths and has now won three races for the Welsh-based Price.

Back-to-back successes at Chepstow and Wincanton last season leave him chasing a hat-trick of wins on the bounce in the 3m1f contest where Gainford will line up alongside fellow Irish amateur Jamie Codd, who rides Neil Mulholland’s The Wicket Chicken.

The young rider has caught the attention of many handlers across the country, with Warren Ewing the latest to call upon his services for the first time last week at Portrush, and it proved to be a successful opening for the pair, with Bold Soldier and Bold Enough both finishing second in the two four-year-old maidens run at the Co. Derry course.

“They were my first rides for Warren. He rang Colin (Bowe) during the week before it and I got in touch with him on the Thursday night. Luckily with the race dividing I got to ride the two of them,” added Gainford who could be in for a busy three days, as he may also be in action on both day’s of point-to-pointing this weekend on his return from Cheltenham.

“I might have one in Loughanmore and then somewhere on Sunday. I love it, the busier I am the better.”