Dawson likely to resist Cheltenham with A Likeable Rogue

Cheltenham Festival-winning jockey John Dawson is likely to resist attempting to repeat the feat as a trainer for now, despite A Likeable Rogue landing a notable blow for the north at Newbury on Saturday.

Dawson, who trains a small string from Mary Reveley’s former base in Saltburn, could have a real talent on his hands after the well-named five-year-old gave the rookie handler a first Listed success of his training career in a race that has produced some top operators down the years.

“It was brilliant and I was over the moon and quite emotional really,” said Dawson.

“Hopefully he can go on to be a proper horse and I’ve only been training for a couple of months, so I’m so proud of everyone.

“He has always shown something different, but he loved that ground and the wetter the better. Brian (Hughes) rang me and said ‘are we definitely going on that ground’ and I said as long as it is on we are there and if it was just raceable then it would be perfect as he would plough through it.

“To find a horse like this at such an early stage and get a Listed win on the board is great. We only have four or five in training and a small team, but to stumble upon this lad is special.”

Dawson guided Fiona Needham’s Sine Nomine to Hunters’ Chase glory at the Cheltenham Festival in 2024 and has already given A Likeable Rogue a taste of the Cotswolds undulations when he finished fourth in a Listed event there in the autumn on debut.

His nine-length Newbury romp earned him quotes of 20-1 for the Champion Bumper next month, but Dawson is minded to take a patient approach with a horse who could become a flagbearer for his fledgling North Yorkshire operation.

Dawson added: “It was the dream of Chris Barker, who is part of the family that own him, to go to Cheltenham with a horse and I said if I’m going to take anyone it would be this lad.

“He ran such a promising race first time out in the Listed race there and then he followed it up at Wetherby and is just going from strength to strength. Hopefully we can pick up some nice prizes with him.

“Newbury was our big day and was always in my mind, particularly if the ground was like it was. That was the main thing for him so we will see about Cheltenham. I would be inclined to say we might look after him for next season.”