Underdog trainer’s wild Cheltenham plot to take on Willie Mullins with ‘amazing’ star

UNDERDOG trainer Joe O’Shea has hatched a wild Cheltenham plan to stun Willie Mullins and Co with his ‘absolutely amazing’ horse. But part of the plot would see him give the star to another trainer because of rules around point-to-point handlers and championship races. Cheltenham Festival and Aintee-winning hunter chaser Barton Snow is going to be aimed at either the Champion Hurdle or Champion Chase Credit: The Times Point-to-point handler Joe O’Shea has hatched a scarcely believable plan for his stable star O’Shea’s sensational Barton Snow landed a Cheltenham-Aintree double last season. The nine-year-old saw off 7-2 fav Its On The Line in the Open Hunters’ Chase at racing’s biggest meeting and is 9-4 fav to repeat the feat next March. He then bolted up by seven lengths a month later in the Randox Foxhunters at the Grand National meeting. Now, in a scarcely believable turn of events, Cheshire-based O’Shea says he is deadly serious about aiming him at the Champion Hurdle or Champion Chase. That would see him potentially pitted against Mullins‘ defending champions Lossiemouth – owned by Rich Ricci – and the Closutton trainer’s super slick chaser Il Etait Temps. Barton Snow, one of just 14 horses O’Shea trains, would have to go to fellow handler Laura Morgan to run in either race because O’Shea can only saddle horses in point-to-points. And he is such an outsider that at the time of writing he doesn’t even feature in the markets for either Grade 1 contest. But that hasn’t stopped his trainer drawing up an unlikely campaign for the horse he has dubbed ‘a flying machine’. Most read in Horse Racing O’Shea said: “The owners have been on to me and said where do you want to go this season so I said let’s go and win the Champion Hurdle. “I’ll win a couple of point-to-points and a Hunter Chase and send him into training 15 days before. “We would send him to Laura Morgan, win the Champion Hurdle. “If he gets beat I’ll have him back for Aintree. “And if not the Champion Hurdle then we will go for the Champion Chase – one of those two. “I have told the owners we’ve got the Cheltenham winner (of next year’s Hunters’ Chase) in Boley Bob. ‘You are going to win it anyway’ I told them, as it’s the same owners. “That or be second to Barton Snow (if they send him there). “But I’m telling you this is a flying machine. He is unbelievable. An absolutely amazing horse and we see it every day. “He looks better than ever. “We’ve just upped him a gear this week, but you ain’t seen nothing yet. “He has never failed to surprise me. He is only a little horse, but he has matured and the five months he has had off have done him the world of good. “He hasn’t got bigger, but he’s got stronger and we are absolutely over the moon with him. “We have just moved up and done his trotting and now he has started cantering and away we go.” FREE BETS – GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org. Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chases their losses Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk Gamble Aware – www.gambleaware.org Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here. Comment now