Tag Archive for: Peter Scudamore

National winner Lucinda Russell to team up with Michael Scudamore

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Dual Grand National-winning trainer Lucinda Russell will join forces with Michael Scudamore on a joint licence in the summer.

Michael Scudamore will move his operation and most of his horses to Russell’s base in Scotland, with Scudamore’s brother, recently-retired jockey Tom, taking over Michael’s Herefordshire base, which will become a satellite and pre-training yard for the jumps operation.

Russell’s assistant and partner, eight-times champion jockey Peter Scudamore, is relishing the prospect of expanding the family-run operation.

“I find it quite awe-inspiring what we are doing,” said Scudamore, father of Tom and Michael.

“Lucinda put it so well that the key to it all is in our attention to the horses and in particular with the time spent seeing them at home and sourcing them at the sales.

“I feel we need to continue to concentrate on what we are good at and we kind of get dragged away from it sometimes.

“We’ll have Michael and Thomas, and the people already within the yard, like Blair Campbell, who is an ex-jockey, Cameron Wadge and Jamie Duff who are our assistants, who have been quite brilliant.

“But they need to continue their roles.

“So we have thought about it and Michael will join us in Scotland. We’ll use Arlary and Kilduff as the main yards, while adding the facility of a satellite yard at Eccleswall Court near Ross-on-Wye, as a pre-training yard.

Tom Scudamore will head the satellite yard in Herefordshire (
Tom Scudamore will head the satellite yard in Herefordshire (Jeff Holmes/PA)

“Michael can go racing and do a lot of the travelling, and I find the advantage of racing in the north is that the ground is softer in the early season and we can get our horses out and running.

“Then we can take some things down south after that. That’s what we intend to do.

“Therefore Thomas can look after the satellite. It needs upgrading. The gallops and stuff are very good, but some of the boxes need upgrading and we need some investment into the yard. We will get that sorted out.

“I’m pleased for the boys. I’m not getting any younger and they will have to buck themselves up.

“We have to sort out the licence now and that is what we are pushing forward to do. We hope to have that in place by June.”

Last month’s Randox Grand National win with Corach Rambler – a second following One For Arthur’s success in 2017 – helped Russell to a personal best of 71 wins in the 2022-23 jumps season. Her horses earned over £1.5million in prize money, good enough to propel her to sixth in the trainer’s championship.

Ahoy Senor added to Russell's personal-best tally last season
Ahoy Senor added to Russell’s personal-best tally last season (Tim Goode/PA)

Other highlights included Apple Away winning the Grade One Sefton Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree, Ahoy Senor taking the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham and Corach Rambler winning the Ultima Chase for a second consecutive season at Cheltenham.

Michael Scudamore is expected to take around 20 horses north of the border, although Tom Scudamore says local southern owners will still have horses at the Herefordshire base.

Tom Scudamore suffered concussion in a fall at Chepstow in early February and following another spill, he announced his immediate retirement later that month and is now looking forward to the next chapter in his career.

He said: “To be honest, I was more than a bit groggy when I coming back in at Chepstow. I hadn’t a clue where I was.

“But that was then, this is now and it is an exciting venture. We’re all really looking forward to it.

“We’ve all done our own thing and we’ve all had our own success and I’m excited about doing it all together.

Michael Scudamore will be on the joint-licence with Russell
Michael Scudamore will be on the joint licence with Russell (Mike Egerton/PA)

“The success that Dad and Lucinda have had over the last year and also the success that Michael’s had, I just think they will balance each other.

“It is really exciting for all parties involved and I think it just shows you the desire and the ambition of us all that we want to build on what we have achieved and become even more successful.

“We will still have room for local owners and people who don’t want to send their horses to Scotland. It just acts as a base for it, but the hub of the operation will be in Kinross and it just means we can take on the world.

“They have the horses to come down south now. They had winners from all over the country last year and now they have the horses to take everywhere.

“It is not a case of bringing them down and stabling them at racecourses overnight – they can come down, have a week freshening up or whatever, because they have the horses to run at the major southern tracks and take everybody on.

“It just ticks all the boxes and makes perfect sense.”

Grand National hero Derek Fox sidelined by broken collarbone

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Derek Fox, who came back from injury to ride Corach Rambler to victory in the Grand National at Aintree, has been sidelined again after breaking his collarbone.

Fox was unseated from the Lucinda Russell-trained Diamond State at Perth on Wednesday.

“He has broken his collar bone, so will be off for five or six weeks,” Russell’s partner and assistant trainer, Peter Scudamore said.

“What a time to do it. Thank God he did it after the National and not before.”

Fox bravely battled back from a shoulder injury picked up in a fall at Wetherby 12 days before returning to ride in the National.

It was his second success in the world’s most famous chase, having partnered the stable’s One For Arthur to success in 2017.

Fox had been due to ride Douglas Talking in the Pigsback.com Handicap Chase over two miles at Punchestown on Thursday.

Douglas Talking will now be partnered by Stephen Mulqueen, who won his first Grade One aboard Apple Away, when scoring in the Sefton Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree for Russell.

Scudamore added: “It gives Patrick Wadge a chance now – he’s been riding ever so well. Stephen Mulqueen will be heading to America to ride, so Patrick will get plenty of opportunities now.”

Russell and Scudamore pay tribute to One For Arthur

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One For Arthur, who won the 2017 Grand National for Lucinda Russell, has died from Colic at the age of 14.

Owned by Belinda McClung and Deborah Thomson, One For Arthur raced under the name of the Two Golf Widows and delivered Scotland’s second success in the race following Rubstic’s victory in 1979.

Winner of Warwick’s Classic Chase, he went on to Aintree glory that same season under Derek Fox and while injury scuppered his follow-up bid the next year, he returned to finish sixth to Tiger Roll in 2019.

He was being primed for the 2020 National, but the race was cancelled because of the Covid pandemic and he was retired that November.

“He was everything a woman wants in a man,” said Russell. “He was brave, honest and kind.

“He was the ideal National horse. He was such an athlete, had loads of stamina, lots of bravery, loved the fences and took his time.

“He was just a fabulous horse to have and set the yard off, and hopefully he would be proud of what we are doing now. He was the springboard for our yard.

“He had a great retirement. He was 14 fitted a lot into his years.”

One For Arthur went on to have a second career in the show ring, in the care of Aisling Dwan, daughter of the Grand National winner’s breeder, John.

He competed at the Dublin Horse Show in August alongside Tiger Roll and returned to Scotland to take part in hunter trials under former work-rider Ailsa McClung.

Peter Scudamore, Russell’s partner and assistant at Arlarly House Stables, felt that his potential was unlocked by the women who adored him.

“It’s only just dawning on us how important he was to us,” said Scudamore. “What was so lovely was that all the girls were around him.

“The Two Golf Widows are wonderful characters and then obviously Lucinda trained him.

“Ailsa McClung looked after him at home and rode him at home. Then Jamie Duff and Erin Walker played a huge part in looking after him.

“Basically, he was owned by women, trained by a woman and looked after by girls all the time and I feel very sad for them, because they adored him and gave him a most magnificent life.

One For Arthur’s owners Belinda McClung (centre) and Deborah Thomson with trainer Lucinda Russell (left) with the trophy
One For Arthur’s owners Belinda McClung (centre) and Deborah Thomson with trainer Lucinda Russell (left) with the trophy (Ian Rutherford/PA)

“He had a good life, but it is they who will miss him, because they adored him.

“He came back to Dumfries just before Christmas to Ailsa and she took him out hunting and cross country and he loved it. He was a great character.”

One For Arthur earned £622,437 in prize-money and won seven times, and while he will be remembered for his Aintree heroics, it is his character and gentle demeanour that he will be most fondly remembered for by those who looked after him.

One For Arthur and Derek Fox jump the last in the 2017 Grand National
One For Arthur and Derek Fox jump the last in the 2017 Grand National (Niall Carson/PA)

Scudamore added: “I think the women surrounding him saw his character more than I did to begin with, but then I just watched him blossom towards that race.

“I really do feel that, because of the love and the adoration the girls gave him, I feel his full character came through. He knew he’d won. He reacted off the adoration he was given.”

Ahoy Senor heading to Aintree if all goes to plan

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Ahoy Senor will head to the Bowl at Aintree should he get over his Cheltenham Gold Cup fall.

The Lucinda Russell-trained eight-year-old was among the top British novice chasers last season, and signed off with a clear-cut win in the Mildmay Novices’ Chase at Aintree, where he defeated the likes of Grade One winner L’Homme Presse and subsequent King George VI Chase hero Bravemansgame.

Though having found life tougher this term, he bounced back after a disappointing King George run to land the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham.

Friday’s return to Prestbury Park was going well as he was full of running when leading the Gold Cup field to five fences from home under Derek Fox, where he got in too close and had a heavy fall.

However, Russell’s assistant and partner, eight-time champion jockey Peter Scudamore, said he is none the worse for the tumble.

“He’s a bit sorry for himself. He’s sound and everything. He is that type of horse. I think he feels almost embarrassed he fell, but he’s well and a couple of days and he’ll be over it. There are no physical issues,” said Scudamore.

“He ran really well. He will probably go to Aintree, God willing. He has got four weeks, so if he can recover from that, he’ll run.

“We’d always felt we’d go to Aintree with him after this. He’s got a week of quiet and a probably a fortnight working, then another quiet week before his race.

“The extra week between the two meetings this year will certainly be a help.”

The defeat was a bitter blow following the high of Corach Rambler taking the Ultima Handicap Chase for a second consecutive year for the yard.

Corach Rambler and Derek Fox on their way to winning the Ultima for a second time
Corach Rambler and Derek Fox on their way to winning the Ultima for a second time (Mike Egerton/PA)

Though the nine-year-old had a hard race in defeating Fastorslow by a neck and scoring for the fourth time in nine attempts over fences, he is still on course for the Randox Grand National on April 15, for which he is as short as 6-1 favourite.

Speaking from Carlisle on Sunday, Scudamore added: “Corach has lost a bit of weight, but I haven’t ridden him yet.

“I spoke to him last night and he’s very pleased with himself. It’s still the Grand National all being well.”

Scudamore confident of Senor’s Gold Cup credentials

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Peter Scudamore expects Ahoy Senor to be competitive in next Friday’s Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup as the finishing touches are put on his preparation.

The classy eight-year-old was a Grade One winner at Aintree as a novice chaser last season, yet three modest runs this term saw his odds drift to 50-1 for the Festival highlight.

However, Ahoy Senor showed significant improvement with a gutsy display in winning the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham in January and was catapulted right back into the reckoning for chasing’s blue riband.

“We are trying to keep our feet on the ground with him after he won at Cheltenham,” said Scudamore, trainer Lucinda Russell’s partner and assistant.

“I keep using this cricket terminology – he’d fit straight into Ben Stokes’ XI wouldn’t he? He won’t have made 10 at lunch time, he’ll make 120 after lunch or be back in the pavilion. He wears his heart on his sleeve.

“If he gets it right and gets his jumping right, he’ll be very competitive.”

The length-and-a-half victory over Sounds Russian, with Grand National winner Noble Yeats staying on in third, was a satisfying one for the Arlary House yard, which is situated between Perth and Edinburgh.

Ahoy Senor’s previous efforts this season included three defeats, when sent off favourite in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby in October and when returning to Aintree for the Many Clouds.

After his fifth of nine to Bravemansgame in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day, the eight-time champion jump jockey could have been forgiven for second-guessing himself over the horse’s ability.

Yet Scudamore insists he is still learning on the job and has every faith he can run a big race in the Gold Cup, for which he is as short as 12-1.

With L’Homme Presse injured, last year’s winner A Plus Tard suffering an interrupted preparation and both Bravemansgame and Galopin Des Champs unproven over three and a quarter miles, it has the makings of an open-looking renewal.

Ahoy Senor, whose nickname is Hank, should not be overlooked according to Scudamore, who added: “I really do think the British chasers are good at the moment.

“Unfortunately for L’Homme Presse’s people he won’t run. I think he’s as good as any of them and I think Bravemansgame, L’Homme Presse and Ahoy are all pretty good.

“Perhaps Bravemansgame is the best of the lot, but on his day, three-mile-two around Cheltenham might play to Hank’s strengths.

“It is never easy to go into this company straight out of a novice season.

Festival Trials Day – Cheltenham Racecourse – Saturday 28th January
Ahoy Senor and Derek Fox were impressive winners of the Cotswold Chase (David Davies/PA)

“At the beginning the of the season, a lot of people suggested we should have slipped into the Stayers’ Hurdle with him.

“But I feel with these horses, if you don’t jump fences early, they never get to jump fences. I think he is still learning his trade a little bit.

“I don’t think we are without a chance, but we are trying to keep our feet on the ground a little bit.”

Ahoy Senor is at least proven at Cheltenham, having chased home L’Homme Presse in last year’s Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase in very soft ground and when scoring in the Cotswold.

Scudamore hopes he will keep returning to the Prestbury Park track, even if he does not strike Gold this time round.

“I like to think he’s got a couple of years ahead of him,” he added.

“We were laughing, saying we hope that Ahoy and I and Lucinda and the owners stay around long enough to have six or seven goes at it. We are very proud of him and hopeful.”

Russell team talking Cheltenham for Douglas

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Douglas Talking will be aimed at next week’s Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase at Cheltenham in the hope he gets the chance to back up “a special performance” at Sandown on Tuesday.

The seven-year-old took his tally to five wins from eight attempts over fences when sauntering to a 13-length success under Patrick Wadge.

Victory continued the blistering recent form of the Lucinda Russell yard, which has scored with its last five runners.

It was his second win in as many visits to the Esher track and Russell’s partner and assistant, eight-times champion jockey Peter Scudamore, feels the manner in which he won warrants a step up into better company.

“My dad always thought Sandown was the best place to ride a steeplechaser,” said Scudamore.

“I remember riding Celtic Shot in a handicap hurdle one day and Kevin Mooney, a man whose judgement I hugely respected, came up and said, ‘Only very, very good horses can finish up the hill like that’.

“I thought it was a special performance on Tuesday, as I didn’t think we’d beat Venetia’s horse (Gamaret).

“We were very happy and very pleasantly surprised – you rarely see horses winning like that at Sandown.”

Scudamore admitted that if he fails to make the cut for Wednesday’s Grand Annual, Douglas Talking looks set for a step up in class at Aintree.

The Close Brothers Red Rum Handicap Chase, over two miles on the first of the three-day Grand National meeting, is a possible landing spot.

Scudamore added: “I remember taking him to Aintree first time over hurdles, thinking he would win and he ran badly. It wasn’t until he jumped fences that he showed the form on the racetrack that he did at home.

“He won well at Ayr previously and I’ll declare him for the Grand Annual, but he will come into the Aintree scenario, as he might not get in the Grand Annual.

“The Aintree race seems a sensible stepping stone. I always thought he wanted fast ground, maybe because of his wind, but twice he’s gone to Sandown now and he’s won on softer ground than I thought he wanted.”

Apple Away could step up in class at Aintree
Apple Away could step up in class at Aintree (Richard Sellers/PA)

Russell is primed to send a strong team to Aintree, spearheaded by Grand National hope Corach Rambler and Ahoy Senor, provided they take their respective Cheltenham tests in the Ultima and Cheltenham Gold Cup well.

Apple Away, who followed up her Ayr handicap hurdle win in a Listed mares’ novices’ hurdle at Doncaster on Saturday, will be among the yard’s top hopes at the Liverpool track.

Scudamore sees something of the yard’s 2012 Grade One Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle winner in the six-year-old.

He explained: “We’ve always thought a lot of her. I think she is a relentless galloper. She doesn’t get tired. She reminds me of Brindisi Breeze.

“We will probably have a better team for Aintree than we will for Cheltenham and we will be thinking of the three-mile (Sefton) Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree for her, depending on ground. I’m very hopeful for her.”

Peter Scudamore and Lucinda Russell will send strong team to Aintree
Peter Scudamore and Lucinda Russell will send strong team to Aintree (Alan Crowhurst/PA)

Esprit Du Potier has won the last two of his three bumpers and drew readily clear of his rivals at Ayr last month. He could also be in the mix.

Scudamore added: “He is a nice horse who we are really, really pleased with. He was impressive at Ayr and he might make the team for Aintree.

“Corach, Ahoy Senor, Douglas Talking, Apple Away and Esprit Du Potier could all go to Aintree, and it would be nice for a stable of our stature to go there and compete against the best.”

Johnson hails ‘great role model’ as Scudamore bows out

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Former champion jockey and weighing-room colleague Richard Johnson has led the tributes to Tom Scudamore following the announcement of his immediate retirement.

Scudamore partnered over 1,500 winners, taking him into the top 10 most successful National Hunt jockeys of all time, a list in which Johnson also proudly sits.

While Scudamore never managed to emulate his father, Peter, and be crowned champion, he spent most of his career up against the record-breaking Sir Anthony McCoy.

“Tom is a great fella and was always brilliant to ride against and sit next to in the weighing room, so I’m surprised but at the same time he’s had a fantastic career and I’m not shocked he’s decided this is the right time for him,” said Johnson.

Richard Johnson (right) with Sir Anthony McCoy
Richard Johnson (right) with Sir Anthony McCoy (David Davies/PA)

“It was the same with me. In your own head if you are happy, that’s the right time.

“He’s been a brilliant jockey but even better than that, he’s a great role model for the young jockeys coming through. He has conducted himself brilliantly over the last 20 years and he’s got a lot to be proud of.

“He’s had a very consistent career, obviously he’s had a great association with the Pipes, he was great to deal with and easy to get on with which is important.

“I’m a little bit surprised, but delighted he’s gone out on his own terms. He’s got children and I can assure him he won’t be bored because with children you are busier after you retire!

“As a jockey you are always looking for good horses. He had plenty but then Thistlecrack came along and he was his main horse and the one people will associate with him winning the King George and those types of races.

“When people were looking for a jockey if their normal jockey was injured, Tom was always one of the names to be sought after so he’s got a lot to be proud of.”

Peter Scudamore (left), Tom's father, was a former champion jockey
Peter Scudamore (left), Tom’s father, was a former champion jockey (Mike Egerton/PA)

Peter Scudamore, a multiple champion jockey himself, knew the day was coming but admitted to still feeling a little “numb”.

“It’s mixed emotions. We’ve been very close throughout all his riding career. Most days we spoke,” he said.

“There is an element of surprise, but at the same time there is a feeling of relief. He’s 40 years of age, so I suppose it was inevitable one day.

“I wasn’t shocked, but a little numb I suppose I would say.

“I had lots of records in my career but I think he’s got more than that, he’s got huge respect within the industry and perhaps I should have taken a leaf out of his book!

“The one day that always sticks out in my career is Next Sensation in the Grand Annual, trained by his brother, Michael.

“I was stood with Luce (Lucinda Russell) in the stand by the second-last so we could just see the last fence. On the first circuit the horse made a terrible mistake and he went down and I thought it was all over, but he came back up again.

“It was AP’s (McCoy) final ride at the Festival, it was a very emotional race, my dad had won it and I’d won it too so that was very special.

“I might have ridden more winners than Tom, but in Thistlecrack he rode a horse probably better than I ever came across. Some may say Carvills Hill, but Thistlecrack achieved more on the track.

“He’s made me very proud.”

Thistlecrack was imperious when winning the King George in 2016
Thistlecrack was imperious when winning the King George in 2016 (Julian Herbert/PA)

Scudamore did not ride many for Colin Tizzard but after winning the Grade One Sefton Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree on Thistlecrack, it was a partnership that was never broken.

Tizzard concentrated on Scudamore’s achievements out of the saddle and simply said: “He was a credit to the industry.

“Everyone else can say whatever they want about him as a jockey, I’ll leave that to them, but he was a credit to the industry.”

Scudamore was linked to the Pond House stables of Martin and then David Pipe throughout his career and the latter tweeted: “Happy retirement @tommyscu!!

“Thank you for your support, dedication, hard work & talent in the saddle for all these years! We have made a great team and share some wonderful memories & fantastic winners. I’m glad you’re going on your own terms and wish you well for the future.”

Scudamore happy to tackle ‘vastly impressive’ Galopin with Ahoy Senor

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Peter Scudamore admits he was “vastly impressed” by Galopin Des Champs’ success at Leopardstown on Saturday, yet says the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup is not a formality for Willie Mullins’ star chaser.

The Audrey Turley-owned seven-year-old won his fifth chase in six starts, powering to an eight-length victory over Stattler in the three-mile Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup and cemented his place at the top of the betting for the English equivalent on March 17.

Eight-time champion jockey Scudamore, assistant and partner to Lucinda Russell who trains Gold Cup contender Ahoy Senor, feels it will be a competitive renewal this year and far from a Mullins benefit.

“I’d be very pleased if he was mine,” Scudamore said of Galopin Des Champs. “He has done it very well. But you can’t be afraid of one horse.

“When you look at the whole thing (Cheltenham), you can’t see any absolute certainties.

“You can be wrong, but the major races look like they are races at the moment. It is a race, the Gold Cup – it is not going to be a gallop round at the moment.”

Galopin Des Champs is now as short as 5-4 to win the extended three-and-a-quarter-mile event, a trip he has yet to tackle.

Winner of the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle at the Festival in 2021, he fell when favourite for the Turners’ Novices’ Chase on his return to Prestbury Park last March.

He has subsequently captured three consecutive Grade One chases in Ireland and has looked better with experience.

Of his latest win, Scudamore added: “He settled and travelled well, so I was vastly impressed.”

However, Scudamore insists the British challenge for the Gold Cup should not be overlooked.

“The one I think who is rather forgotten is Bravemansgame, because his form looks as good as anything,” said Scudamore of the Paul Nicholls-trained King George VI Chase winner.

Ahoy Senor heads to the Gold Cup with hope
Ahoy Senor heads to the Gold Cup with hope (David Davies/PA)

“I think it is a good Gold Cup. When you are stood outside sometimes, you can look at the race and say it looks bad, but when you are involved with them, you realise they are good.”

Ahoy Senor, who was fifth to Bravemansgame at Kempton on Boxing Day before bouncing back to defeat Sounds Russian in the Grade Two Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham, is a best-priced 12-1 shot for the Gold Cup and will head straight there.

Scudamore added: “Ahoy is fine. He came out of his race really well. He hasn’t really started working too much, he’s just been hacking about at the moment and we’ll build up again from there. I feel we go with hope.”

Scudamore: Still more to come from Ahoy Senor

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Peter Scudamore is not a man given to making excuses, yet reluctantly concedes the recent cold snap may have contributed to Ahoy Senor’s fifth-place finish in the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase at Kempton.

Winner of the Grade One Mildmay Novices’ Chase at Aintree in April, the Lucinda Russell-trained seven-year-old has yet to score in three starts this term and was beaten 33 lengths by Bravemansgame in the Boxing Day feature.

Last season’s high-class novice jumped with plenty of fluency out of the soft ground in the three-mile event, which pleased connections, even if the result left something to be desired.

Russell’s partner and assistant, eight-time champion jockey Scudamore, said Ahoy Senor was not disgraced and could now head to the Grade Two Paddy Power Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham on January 28.

“It’s funny really, I had been worried about his jumping, I got his jumping right but I’ve got to get his galloping right,” said Scudamore.

“I was disappointed, but when you are dealing with a horse at that level, you get disappointed. If I want to grasp at straws and make excuses, I think we have run one or two who, once the snow came, I couldn’t get them on the main gallop. I hate using those excuses, but I do think that.

“He was fifth in a King George and I know L’Homme Presse unseated at the last, but he hasn’t disgraced himself.”

Too keen on his return in the Charlie Hall at Wetherby, and not fluent early on when a close-up third to last season’s Grand National winner Noble Yeats in the Many Clouds at Aintree, Ahoy Senor made just one minor jumping error in the King George.

“It is not show jumping,” said Scudamore. “I thought he jumped well. It is the first time since Aintree that he has got all his jumping together.

“I’ve no complaints with his jumping. We have just got to get him galloping and we probably needed a gallop or two more.

“Some of the horses it suits, some of the heavier horses it doesn’t. It is my job to get them right.

“I think with better ground and better preparation, there is some more to come.”

Though some pundits suggested that the Sunbury track would not play to the strengths of the Bruce Wymer-owned Dylan Thomas gelding, Scudamore was quick to dispel those arguments.

He added: “Even last year, people blamed the track, but I don’t think the track made any difference to him. He’s run well at Cheltenham, he’s run well at Liverpool, he jumped well round Kempton. So, let’s get the facts out – I think he handles any track.

Corach Rambler has Lingfield option
Corach Rambler has Lingfield option (Nigel French/PA)

“I think when he gets the right race, when he’s right, he’ll win again.”

Russell and Scudamore will try to keep Ahoy Senor and fellow stable star Corach Rambler apart, although the latter, winner of the the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March, could return to the Prestbury Park track next month should he not run on Winter Millions day at Lingfield on January 22.

Scudamore said: “It depends on the ground. I wouldn’t run Ahoy if it is very soft at Cheltenham, but he might go to the Cotswold Chase.

“Corach Rambler has got Lingfield or the Cotswold Chase. I think he might go to the Fleur De Lys and if the ground was very soft at Cheltenham, he might go to the Cotswold Chase, but I’d favour Lingfield. We’ll see closer to the time.”

The two miles and six furlongs Fleur De Lys chase could prove a stepping stone to the Grand National for Corach Rambler, who was a staying-on fourth to Le Milos in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury last month.

With the David Pipe-trained runner-up Remastered backing that up with an authoritative win over three miles at Kempton on Tuesday, Scudamore is hopeful the eight-year-old can follow suit.

“I was delighted to see Remastered frank the form,” he added. “The Coral Gold Cup was the best staying handicap this side of the water.

“I was pleased with his run, so Corach is going to have his first piece of work since that run today (Friday). He’ll have two runs before the Grand National – that’s the dream.”