Fahey travels to the Festival with more than a flicker of hope

Flicker of Hope is the name of Mark Fahey’s first runner at the Cheltenham Festival, not a description of his chances as contrary to what his name might suggest he has a very strong chance in Friday’s Grade 1 Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle.

“We think we are going in there with a chance. A few lads have said to me that he is the right profile going into the race. He’s in good form all year, still seems in good form. We’re looking forward to getting over there and seeing what he can do,” said the trainer, who is based in Cloneygath in Monasterevin.

Fahey freely admits that the Cheltenham Festival was not on this horse’s radar at the start of the season but his performances began to open up possibilities.

He won the Galway Handicap Hurdle last August but it was a win in Navan at the start of December that really put him in the Cheltenham picture.

“No, this was never on our mind at the start of the season,” said Fahey.

“He’s progressed and got better as the year went on. When he won a €100,000 race in Navan we decided we’d have a look at the Albert Bartlett.”

Flicker of Hope followed that with an excellent third place in the Leopardstown Handicap Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival at the start of February. Fahey feels those two displays marked him out as a potential Albert Bartlett horse.

“It’s tough race but he’s proven he’s tough over the trip. He jumps well, touch wood. We’re hoping…it would be a dream to get him back there in the first four and in the winner’s enclosure,” he said.

To say that Fahey’s family is immersed in horse racing wouldn’t do justice to the Fahey’s devotion to the sport. His uncles Jarlath, Paul, Seamus and Peter are all trainers themselves and to have a runner at the Cheltenham Festival is something that Fahey always dreamed of.

“To just get over there and be going with a live chance, we’re just delighted with it. Hopefully we’re not just making up the numbers and hopefully we can collect something over there,” he said.

Emulating the success enjoyed by his uncle Peter, who won the 2021 County Hurdle with 33/1 shot Belfast Banter, would be the stuff of dreams.

“Everybody will be shouting us on, a few of the family are coming over and even a few of my owners in the yard as well, we get on great and a few of them are coming over,” he said.

There is the possibility that Flicker of Hope could run later in the season at the Punchestown Festival but for now, it's only Cheltenham on Fahey's mind for the horse.

"We’ll just get Cheltenham out of the way first, make sure he comes out of that 100% and see where we go from there. We just take it one race at a time, we never thought were going to here with this horse but it’s brilliant the way he’s after developing and improving to get to here," he said. 

Any potential celebrations of a success would have to be put on hold though as no sooner will the Cheltenham Festival be over than Fahey’s thoughts will be turning to the opening flat day of the season at the Curragh.

“We’d have to put any party on hold as we hope to have a runner in the Lincoln on the first day at the Curragh on the Sunday after Cheltenham, Rhythm King, so maybe we will have a double celebration,” he laughed.

He’ll back at the Curragh later in the month with another exciting prospect, Tina’s Indian.

“We’re hoping that he runs at the end of the month in The Gladness Stakes, a seven furlong race at the Curragh. We’ll see how he does in that and that will tell us where he can go for the season,” said Fahey.

A good showing that in the Curragh that day could potentially lead to a horse who Fahey has labelled as the ‘the best Flat horse I've ever had in my yard’ being aimed at Royal Ascot.

“That would be another box ticked alright,” smiled Fahey.

There’s more than a flicker of hope for some momentous occasions in the coming weeks and months down Cloneygath way.