Kieren Fallon will go up against his National Hunt counterparts when he rides Old McDonald in next month's Weatherbys Champion Bumper.
Kieren Fallon will go up against his National Hunt counterparts when he rides Old McDonald in next month's Weatherbys Champion Bumper.
Fallon has experience of riding in the National Hunt Flat Race after steering Refinement into fourth in the 2005 renewal and trainer Noel Glynn has turned to the six-times champion jockey for the ride on his four-year-old in the March 17 feature.
"We are from the same parish in County Clare and Kieren was a neighbour of mine, so I decided to get him booked and I couldn't have got much better," said Glynn.
Old McDonald notched his first win at Ludlow in December when partnered by Barry Geraghty and Glynn is confident he can pose a threat to the leading fancies on the day.
"This is a good horse and he won nicely at Ludlow last time. The time before he was second to Tavern Times at Fairyhouse and was maybe a bit unlucky," Glynn explained.
"Tavern Times is one of the favourites for the Champion Bumper and I'd like to think we'll be wherever he is.
"Whether it will be just in front of him or just behind him I don't know, hopefully in front."