Cheltenham heroine Jessica Harrington has “kicked cancer in the a**e” and now waged war on the new rules over Festival handicaps.
The brilliant Irish trainer is part of the meeting’s folklore having trained Sizing John to win a Gold Cup, Jezki to win a Champion Hurdle and the wonderful Moscow Flyer to triumph in two Queen Mother Champion Chases. Harrington was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2022, but, having received the all-clear last year, she hopes to have dismissed the disease for good as she revealed his best chance for the 2025 showpiece.
The 78-year-old said: “I am completely clear, I had another scan last week and I am absolutely perfect. We got through it, we gave it [cancer] a kick in the a**e.” Harrington returns with hopes of adding to her nine Festival successes as she revealed Jetara will have a crack at the Mares’ Hurdle.
She said: “I don’t know if Lossiemouth or Brighterdaysahead will run it, but we came to the conclusion that we might as well go for that. The owner said I’d rather be second or third to them than go anywhere else. She seems to be in great form and has come out of that race well. Until the day comes, we hope she will run a good race.”
Harrington enjoyed handicap success at the Festival with horses such as Supasundae in the Coral Cup and Rock The World in a Grand Annual. But she doesn’t see sense in the changes that have been made in rules for qualification ahead of this year’s events.
Harrington said: “I spoke with Nicky Henderson about how British horses had to run five times to get into handicaps which was quite crazy and as the Irish run them more than the English, they will get into handicaps more and so the authorities have shot themselves in the foot.
“I rang him the other day to commiserate with Sir Gino. I usually ring him when things are going badly! When they’re going well, everybody rings him!”
Harrington, meanwhile, reflected on her past Cheltenham heroes, her training work these days and handling horses for Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood. Speaking to Cheltenham Festival betting, she said: “I got sent a link of the whole thing of Moscow Flyer, the year he won the Arkle. I hadn’t realised what a competitive race it was, he was about 6-1 that day and how he won it so easily. It was quite fun looking back at that.
“Listen, he was brilliant. I have been very lucky to have good horses, Sizing John, Supersundae and lots of others. I have had some great ones all the way along and some great Flat horses too and that’s what I have now, mainly Flat horses.
“My balance is 90 percent Flat, 10 percent jumpers. My heart loves jumping, but commercially and making a living, the Flat is the commercial and the National Hunt is the love.
“It never gets any easier. As I always say, you have to keep re-inventing yourself every year and coming up with new ideas.”
The 78-year-old was a pioneer for female trainers and added: “When I started there were very few and there are still very few of them now. I think it is challenging but it shouldn’t be, we should be treated as equals and sometimes you have to forget you are a woman, believe you are a trainer and get on with it.”
Harrington has trained horses for Wood and explained: “I have had horses with him for over 25 years. I have got one for him at the moment. I met him through a mutual friend, he had his stud with a couple of mares and the first horse I had with him, we managed to win a race and then we bought another for him, and she won on the Flat and over hurdles.
“One year he had a small colt and he won an award for the Small Breeder of the Year in Leinster. That was great fun because he was able to come to the awards ceremony.
“He started keeping horses when he bought a house in Ireland about 30 odd years ago. Probably his best was Sandymount Duke who won many races in his career. He was great as an owner.
“I still talk to him, because he has a house over here as well and a stud farm at Sandymount. When he’s over I usually go and see him.
“He is also a great artist. I have one or two of his paintings. He made a lovely one for me of Moscow Flyer which I have. He is such a talented man.”