Cromwell.'S INVASION!

Published date10 March 2024
Publication titleDaily Star (England)
Now the shoe is on the other foot for CHELTENHAM expert Gavin Cromwell

The Irishman is in red-hot form over this side of the water, steaming to success at all but one of Prestbury Park's winter meets.

Cromwell. 's crafts are physically demanding and require absolute precision - miss the target and it can be very costly indeed.

But the Co. Meath native is not a man for throwing darts at British races, a fear of failure means he must regularly hit the bullseye.

"I have to have winners now," he said, speaking from a 150-box yard in the process of being upgraded.

"It's very different to when training was my hobby. We started at the bottom and we're trying to get towards the top."

Until four years ago, Cromwell. would shoe horses for other trainers, including one of Ireland's 'big two', Gordon Elliott.

It enabled the 4 9 - y e a r - o l d (right) to soak up information like a sponge, before putting his own stamp on p r e m is e s at Danestown.

Gold Cup hero Don

Cossack was in residence at Cullentra when Cromwell. had the key to the stable door.

And just weeks after the chaser's defining win in 2016, Ireland's newbie made giant strides with a "cast-off " called Jer's Girl.

Her close Grade Two second to Apple's Jade - a future Elliott great - caught the eye of racing superpower JP McManus.

He invested in Cromwell.'s new-found talent and within months there was a double Grade One reward at Fairyhouse and Punchestown.

"I had about 12 horses at the time and she was fantastic," he said.

"It was always an ambition of mine to train for JP.

"He's a wonderful supporter of horse racing who has helped so many people.

"The following summer, he sent me Espoir D'Allen and we went on to win the 2019 Champion Hurdle with him."

Cromwell. was lost for words after he witnessed the inexperienced jumper...

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