HUNTER GATHERER
Gibbs plotting yet another Magic day THE champagne is on ice, the pints are yet to be pulled.
Bradley Gibbs is waiting patiently for his Cheltenham celebration.
There is no rest for the winner of the Festival’s ‘amateur Gold Cup’ with Aintree looming.
Premier Magic starred at Prestbury Park in the St James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup Hunters’ Chase, and Gibbs today pursues a rare double in Aintree’s equivalent over the famous Grand National fences.
“We couldn’t go too mad celebrating on the weekend after Cheltenham because our Aintree Foxhunter runner Fier Jaguen was competing in a point-to-point on the Sunday,” said the jockey and Hertfordshire-based trainer.
“There will be a good party in the summer. We are focused on Aintree now and, on his form this year, I’d be very hopeful our horse will run a massive race.”
The Cheltenham-Aintree hunter chase double was last achieved by the same jockey, trainer and owner in 2015.
Class act in the sphere, Enda Bolger’s On The Fringe, took top honours for Nina Carberry in the colours of JP McManus.
Form enthusiasts have to thumb the pages back to 1993 to find another winning combo in both races – Reg Wilkins and Ron Treloggen, who teamed up with Double Silk.
Both of Gibbs’ top thoroughbreds run in the colours of Julian Sherriff, the father of his fiancée Claire and owner of the farm where he has 28 horses.
Premier Magic, on target for a first trip to Punchestown, heads the group of pointers and young stock to sell on.
“I still can’t really believe I won at the Cheltenham Festival,” the 28-year-old Gibbs said.
“It’s like being in a bubble. The previous year I thought he would be in the first four, but I rode him down the inside and he backed out of it.
“Once we had jumped the first three this time I knew we were in with a chance.
“It was carnage in the closing stages, with the loose horse there.
The final 100 yards felt more like five miles!”
Fier Jaguen has galloped on remorselessly in his last three starts – winning by an average of 52 lengths.
Gibbs, who used to ride Grand National regular Saint Are when he was based at Tim Vaughan’s yard, will keep tactics simple.
And the babysitter has already been booked so the proud Welshman can be accompanied by Claire and their baby son Hadley on the trip to Liverpool.
“Fier Jaguen took to the National fences like a duck to water when schooling in Lambourn,” Gibbs added.
“He has been very impressive in points this season. There is no point trying to slow him down, I let him do his own thing.
“The plan is to go as fast as he can for as long as he can – and hopefully stay in front.”