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Small Kildare trainer chases big Cheltenham dream

Luker's Tipple is 'our big hope' says trainer Andrew Kinirons
Luker's Tipple is 'our big hope' says trainer Andrew Kinirons

It won't just be the big horse racing stables travelling over to Cheltenham next week looking for success, with some of the smaller trainers in the country also hoping to get in on the act.

Andrew Kinirons trains 20 horses at his family run yard in Ladytown in Kildare and is sending just one of them to the festival, but still has high expectations.

He's had one runner at Cheltenham before, with low expectations and no success on that occasion. But on Tuesday he'll take on the big boys again, and this time confidence is high.

"Everyone will be watching and we're going there with a real chance."

Luker's Tipple is "our big hope", Andrew said.

"It's our second runner in Cheltenham, but it's the first time we're going there with a real, live chance. We're really looking forward to it.

The care of Luker's Tipple is a family affair, as everyone helps out in the yard

"Cheltenham is massive, it's the Olympics of jumps racing. Everyone will be watching and we're going there with a real chance.

"Obviously you need a lot of luck around there, but we're very confident and we think we've got the horse for the job."

Andrew has only been a trainer for five years, and with family and close friends helping out in the yard, everyone is invested in four-year-old Luker's Tipple.

"It's very exciting for everyone," he said.

"Me, my partner Teresa, our two kids, the lads in the yard and everyone in the whole family is excited. It's a thing we've watched since we were kids and I rode around Cheltenham once, but to be going there with this lad (Luker's Tipple) is just brilliant."

Luker's Tipple gets his name from Lukers Bar in Shannonbridge in Co Offaly. He's owned by a syndicate of four friends who are also involved in the bar.

Andrew said people whom he hasn't spoken to in a long time have started texting him, asking about the horse's chances.

Luker's Tipple will run in the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham on Tuesday (file image)

"It's mad. A lot of these guys would only have an interest in the horses for one week of the year, at Cheltenham. Everyone will be having their bets and we love it.

"We'll have a good party if we can get a good result!"

Luker's Tipple runs in the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham on Tuesday.