Paul Gilligan

Berties Dream is 14 years ago now. Difficult to believe. The 2010 Albert Bartlett Hurdle, staying on dourly on the far side under Andrew Lynch in a survival-of-the-fittest contest that was over half-way up the run-in.

Magic.

Paul Gilligan remembers it well. He was standing on the ground there, in the chute where the horses go out onto the course after they have left the parade ring. He watched on the big screen in front of him when the horses were over on the far side of the course, and he watched them live when they raced up past him. And when they did, first time, his horse was along the inside, about 11^th or 12^th, travelling well, a circuit to go.

Since that day, when Paul Gilligan is at Cheltenham, he watches all his horses’ races from there, standing on the ground, in the chute where the horses go out onto the course after they have left the parade ring.

“I was watching on the big screen as they were racing down the back straight,” recalls the trainer, “and I just saw his nose coming into the picture, and I thought, not too bad, he’s still there with them. I knew that he would stay on. He was a straightforward horse, he just galloped and galloped and galloped.”

Berties Dream had been over to Cheltenham the previous November for the Grade 2 Hyde Hurdle, AP McCoy had ridden him to finish third. It was a big run, but the champion jockey thought that he could do even better.

“We rode him handy that day,” says Paul. “But AP came in and told me not to ride him handy again, that he would be better ridden in behind. It shows you the value of having someone like AP McCoy on your side. That was the winning of the Albert Bartlett Hurdle there.”

Ask Paul Gilligan if that was the best day of his career to date, and he thinks for a moment. There is intense competition for that accolade.

Just 16 days after he won the Albert Bartlett Hurdle with Berties Dream, he won the Powers Gold Cup at Fairyhouse with Jadanli. Two Grade 1 wins in just over two weeks. Three years after that, he sent the same Jadanli to Gowran Park to win the Thyestes Chase. And in 2010, he won the Galway Blazers Handicap Chase at the Galway Festival with Born By The Sea, who was ridden to victory by his son Jack.

“Any winner at Galway is special,” says the Galway trainer. “Born By The Sea’s win in the Blazers was special, with Jack. Shanwalla won earlier in the week too and we had other horses go close. And to win a Powers Gold Cup with Jadanli, that was special.”

This season is going well so far for Paul Gilligan, his latest win notched up at Leopardstown last Sunday, when Zeeband battled on well for his son Jack to win the Adare Manor Opportunity Maiden Hurdle. Actually, it looked like it was going to be a scrap between the Gilligan brothers, as Danny led early on the favourite Crooked Tannie but, in the end it was Master Otis and Charlie O’Dwyer who emerged as the most potent challenger to Zeeband.

“Danny’s horse was keen enough early on,” says Paul. “Jack just kept poking away at him. We know that our horse stays well, he won a Northumberland Vase in Britain for Roger Varian over two miles on the flat, and he kept on well. He’ll get further too over hurdles, and he’ll probably go back on the flat as well in the summer. He’s a nice horse. He could win again soon. He could go to Wexford for a novices’ handicap next.”

Big week ahead before that though. Buddy One is on track for the Stayers’ Hurdle for starters. He ran a massive race in the Martin Pipe Hurdle at last year’s Cheltenham Festival, and he was impressive in winning a three-mile handicap hurdle at Cheltenham’s November meeting.

“He obviously likes Cheltenham,” says his trainer thoughtfully. “His two runs there have been very good. He was great last year. It was a great buzz, to run so well, to get so close. And everyone came home safe and well. He’s in great order at home now. Really. He’s flying. He’s bucking and squealing. And he’s some horse to deal with. He’ll go over there on Saturday morning, he’ll eat and he’ll sleep all day. Nothing fazes him.”

Kings Hill will run in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. He stayed on well to finish fourth in a good maiden hurdle at Leopardstown’s Christmas Festival, and he was impressive in winning at Thurles last month. He goes there with a live outsider’s chance. Sequestered will run in either the Coral Cup or the Martin Pipe Hurdle.

And Paul Gilligan will be there, with his horses, standing on the ground, in the chute where the horses go out onto the course after they have left the parade ring.

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