Jockey Aidan Coleman thanks Injured Jockeys Fund after Cheltenham success

AIDAN COLEMAN was the first to credit the Injured Jockeys Fund for patching him up so he could continue his Cheltenham alliance with Put The Kettle On.
Put The Kettle On ridden by jockey Aidan Coleman clear the last to win the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham.Put The Kettle On ridden by jockey Aidan Coleman clear the last to win the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham.
Put The Kettle On ridden by jockey Aidan Coleman clear the last to win the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham.

The mare’s win in the Grade Two Shloer Chase, overhauling Duc des Genievres in the closing stages, was her third triumph in as many starts at the home of jump racing.

She won a novice chase at the corresponding meeting 12 months ago under Coleman before they won the Arkle Trophy, a two-mile championship race, at the National Hunt Festival in March.

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Trained in Ireland by Henry de Bromhead, Put The Kettle On is now a leading contender for the blue riband Queen Mother Champion Chase next March.

Aidan Coleman dedicated his Shloer Chase win to the Injured Jockeys Fund.Aidan Coleman dedicated his Shloer Chase win to the Injured Jockeys Fund.
Aidan Coleman dedicated his Shloer Chase win to the Injured Jockeys Fund.

But Coleman was just pleased to be back in the saddle after suffering a badly broken arm in a fall at Market Rasen in late July. And he, like all jockeys, is acutely aware of the financial pressures facing the IJF whose team of staff, and fundraisers, are ever present on Britain’s racecourses in normal times selling Christmas merchandise.

This income is critical to maintaining its three rehab centres, including Jack Berry House in Malton and Oaksey House in Lambourn that was so instrumental to Coleman’s recovery.

“The Injured Jockeys Fund is what puts us back on the track months before we should be. If I had my injury 10 years ago, I would have been out for six months,” said a grateful Coleman.

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“Because of Oaksey House, I have halved it — and that is not an effort from me, that is an effort from them. We would be lost without the Injured Jockeys Fund.”

This was Harry Bannister winning a novice hurdle at Cheltenham on For Pleasure.This was Harry Bannister winning a novice hurdle at Cheltenham on For Pleasure.
This was Harry Bannister winning a novice hurdle at Cheltenham on For Pleasure.

Coleman added: “I think she can be a Champion Chaser – of course she can. Whether that means being competitive or winning only time will tell, but she is value for more today considering the feel I got all the way round.

“She will be there, she will be in the money, but whether she’s first or fourth, you don’t know, do you, but she is a credit to connections and a delight to have.”

The disappointment was multiple Grade One winner Defi du Seuil who was pulled up by Richard Johnson on his comeback run after a poor show in the Champion Chase. The jockey said: “He was very tired jumping the second last. I just thought it was the right thing to do to pull him up after that.”

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Like dual Grand National winner Tiger Roll who will have a full MOT after pulling up in Friday’s Cross Country Chase, connections of Defi du Seuil, owned by JP McManus and trained by Philip Hobbs, are determined to get to the bottom of the horse’s below-par performances.

Yorkshire-born jockey Harry Bannister also had a winner on the final day of Cheltenham’s November meeting, making all on For Pleasure for trainer Alex Hales.

Meanwhile champion jockey Brian Hughes edged slightly further ahead of the pursuing Harry Cobden in this year’s title race with a double at Wetherby.

He won the novice chase on Malystic for Malton trainer Peter Niven – the horse is one to follow – before taking the handicap hurdle on Albert’s Rock for Mick Easterby.

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Hughes was denied a treble when Mackenberg was caught on the line in the introductory hurdle by an inspired James Bowen on Hooligan.

Bowen, himself, was completing a double after earlier success on Mario de Pail for former Gold Cup-winning jockey Sam Thomas.

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