Shearer: I’ll be cheering on Shearer at Cheltenham

Alan Shearer is looking forward to watching a horse named in his honour at the Cheltenham Festival this week.

The equine Shearer will take his place in the St. James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Chase for 14-time champion trainer Paul Nicholls and will be ridden by his daughter, Olive.

The nine-year-old is a perfect four from four over fences and made an impressive return to this track this season following a 601-day absence.

He was partnered by Olive Nicholls when winning a Ffos Las Hunters Chase by a remarkable 37 lengths before a quick return to action saw him win at Taunton to qualify for the race at Prestbury Park.

Former Newcastle and England captain Shearer told Betfair: “Cheltenham is an amazing place and I can’t wait to watch all the action this week.

“I do really enjoy it – I used to have a share in a horse with a few of my pals. We’ve had some great days out and some bad days out, which is all part of the sport, isn’t it?

“There’s a special horse running on Friday, trained by Paul Nicholls, called Shearer, fantastic.

“I mean, Shearer, running in the St James’s, come on!

“I want to wish everyone the best of luck for Friday. I really hope it goes well, good luck Paul, Olive and all the connections.

“It’s won two from two this season and hopefully it will be three from three.”

Shearer has had a stake at the Festival previously through part-ownership of Augusta Kate, who was trained by Willie Mullins.

She ran in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at the 2017 Festival and then the Stayers’ Hurdle the following year, finishing sixth and ninth, with both races won by her stablemate Penhill.

Shearer enjoyed success at Prestbury Park 20 years ago when the Howard Johnson-trained Akilak landed odds of 50-1 in a Grade Two hurdle on Trials day in the hands of Graham Lee.

Shearer added: “I’ve been to Cheltenham and had a runner, with Augusta Kate, at the Festival. It was amazing to go into the parade ring, with the other owners and trainers it was brilliant. It’s a side you don’t usually see as a punter – it was brilliant to experience.

“I once had a winner at Cheltenham, not at the Festival, but Trials day, which was a 50-1 shot. Unfortunately, I was actually playing that day at St James’s Park.

“We had a horse called Akilak and the other owners, my mates, had gone down to watch the horse and half of my other mates were in my box during the game.

“I got into the dressing room, the manager did his team talk, and then I snuck my phone into the toilet to see if I could check on the result!

“We won the match as well so it was one of the better days. We went out to celebrate both wins afterwards – it was a great day!”