Racing: Farmer Jack destined for fairy-tale win

A serendipitous story that began 10 years ago at one of the gaffs is poised to reach the heights at Cheltenham today. Farmer Jack would not really be in the field for the Arkle Trophy, on several counts, but fate intervened each time to tweak him in the right direction.

The seven-year-old belongs to two retired Dorset-based farmers, the old school friends Peter Partridge and Roger Kellow, who bred him from their mare Cheryl's Pet, claimed at Hereford 10 years ago for 5,050 guineas on the advice of Brendan Powell. "We did not mean to have a broodmare, we bought her as a racehorse," said Partridge, "but after she got a leg [injury] we decided to have a couple of foals from her, then sold her on."

The mating that produced Farmer Jack was not part of the plan, either. Rakaposhi King was the stallion of choice, but when Partridge visited Shade Oak Stud to inspect him, he took a fancy to a new young stallion who had just arrived, Alflora. Cheryl's Pet's first-born arrived on the birthday of Partridge's father, Jack, hence his name.

The foot-and-mouth outbreak of two years ago further shaped the horse's destiny, as the original intention was to make him a point-to-pointer locally. But the season's sport was wiped out and Farmer Jack was sent to a licensed yard, that of Richard Mitchell, and thence to Seamus Mullins's bigger operation once his potential emerged.

Azertyuiop will be a warm order in today's Irish Independent-sponsored novice two-mile championship after his faultless record in his three chases. But Farmer Jack (2.35) has done little wrong either, in arguably more competitive contests and put up a tremendous display in defeat against Tarxien last time over a distance too long and in ground too soft.

Partridge and Kellow have turned down telephone-number offers from the high rollers for their star – "It's easy to see why people want him, but this is our fairytale" – and he can justify their faith in a race that is invariably a sound pointer to senior class. The past three winners, Flagship Uberalles, Tiutchev and Moscow Flyer, compete in tomorrow's Champion Chase.

The meeting's opening roar at the end of the Supreme Novices' Hurdle has been reserved for the Irish on the past two occasions and, given that the balance of power among the current crop of first-season two-milers seems tilted towards the raiders, the trend can continue. Back In Front (2.00), third in last year's Festival Bumper, can be the first this time round to emphasise just how vintage an edition it was. The two in front 12 months ago were Pizarro and Rhinestone Cowboy, and the two immediately behind were Thisthatandtother and Iris's Gift.

Favourites, however, do not have a notable record in what is invariably a no-quarter contest. Like-A-Butterfly last year was the first to succeed since 1991 and the past 20 runnings have yielded only one other, plus victors at 50-1, 40-1 and two at 25-1. Among the longer shots another Irishman, Rosaker, will be doing his best work up the hill.

The National Hunt Handicap Chase has taken over as the meeting's perceived Grand National trial, a role that was accorded to the Gold Cup itself in its early days. The classy novice Joss Naylor runs here instead of the Royal & SunAlliance Chase tomorrow, but Ad Hoc (4.00) has been laid out for this and is 2lb lower than when third last year. In the Fulke Walwyn/Kim Muir Chase, one of the week's highlights for the amateur brigade, two suggestions are the sound jumpers Spinofski (4.40) and Ifni Du Luc.

Martin Pipe, the meeting's leading active trainer, is mob-handed in the closing Pertemps Final, with a third of the 24 runners. Trying to second-guess the maestro is tricky but forgive Tucacas (5.20) her last run and she should be thereabouts.