Harriet Graham is plotting the biggest Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup shock for over three decades with stable stalwart Aye Right.
It is 32 years since Norton’s Coin produced a 100-1 shock for Welsh dairy farmer Sirrell Griffiths in the 1990 blue riband.
Now Graham, who trains a team of 11 jumpers in partnership with former jockey Gary Rutherford in the Scottish Borders, is aiming at a turn-up with 66-1 chance Aye Right, third to fellow Gold Cup challenger Chantry House in the Cotwold Chase at the home of jump racing in January.
The nine-year-old holds an entry in the Ultima Handicap Chase - he finished third to Vintage Clouds in the same race last March - but Graham said: “I think we’ll go for the Gold Cup.
“The Ultima is attractive but we feel the Gold Cup course sill suit him better and you just never know - it’s a lovely daydream to have.
“You’ve got to dream big, haven’t you? It keeps you travelling in the lorry and mucking out in the morning.”
But Fiddlerontheroof is set to bypass the Gold Cup a fortnight tomorrow for a tilt at the Randox Grand National.
“We’ve saved him for the spring and he’ll go to the National with a chance,” said Joe Tizzard, who trains Fiddlerontheroof in partnership with his father Colin.
