Trainer John Dawson Withdraws A Likeable Rogue from Cheltenham Festival Contention
Rookie trainer John Dawson has made the significant decision not to run his highly promising horse, A Likeable Rogue, again this season, effectively ruling out any potential bid for the Champion Bumper at the prestigious Cheltenham Festival in March. The imposing grey gelding, described by Dawson as a "very exciting" prospect, will be put away for the remainder of the campaign, despite recent impressive form that attracted substantial interest from prospective buyers.
Impressive Victory Sparks Interest and Speculation
A Likeable Rogue demonstrated his considerable talent earlier this month with a commanding performance at Newbury, storming to a nine-length victory in a Listed National Hunt Flat Race. Ridden by jockey Brian Hughes, the horse left several six-figure purchases trailing in his wake on the sodden track, crossing the line ahead of competitors including the previously unbeaten Get Out Of My Way and Trojan Tale.
This dominant display immediately caught the attention of the racing world, with bookmaker William Hill offering odds of 20-1 for the horse to achieve Champion Bumper glory at Cheltenham. However, Dawson has firmly taken that possibility off the table, choosing instead to preserve his stable star for future campaigns.
Dawson Confirms Horse Will Remain with Current Owners
John Dawson, who obtained his training licence under Rules in October 2024, revealed that he has received multiple enquiries from parties interested in purchasing A Likeable Rogue in recent days. Despite this external interest, the trainer confirmed that the horse's owners, Chris Barker and his family, have no intention of selling their valuable asset.
"We have decided to put him away," stated Dawson, who previously experienced Festival success as a rider when leading Sine Nomine to victory in the 2024 Hunters’ Chase. "He is bucking and kicking - you wouldn't know he had a race - but he jumps so well at home we can look to the future. Thankfully Chris Barker and his family want to keep him, which is great, as we haven't been doing this long."
Historical Precedent of the Newbury Race
The Newbury event that A Likeable Rogue won has served as a notable springboard for several stars of National Hunt racing in previous seasons. Most famously, the 2015 renewal was won by Barters Hill, who defeated Nicky Henderson's talented pair Buveur D'Air and Altior, with all three horses subsequently achieving success at the elite Grade One level.
This historical context adds further weight to Dawson's decision to carefully manage his horse's development, suggesting a long-term strategy focused on nurturing A Likeable Rogue's potential for future jumping campaigns rather than rushing to Cheltenham this season.
Weather Concerns Threaten Today's Racing Fixtures
Meanwhile, racing officials face weather-related challenges with today's scheduled ITV4 fixtures at Haydock Park and Wincanton, both subject to 8am inspections due to ongoing adverse conditions.
At Haydock Park, clerk of the course Dan Cooper explained the situation: "It's been quite a challenging forecast. The rain crept up on us about a week later than the rest of the country - we've had high-40mm in the last seven days. In midweek, the forecast for frost became worse so I decided on Thursday morning that we had to put down frost covers. The worst-case is -3C and the majority of forecasts are about 0C, which is manageable, so I'm very hopeful."
The Newton-le-Willows course is scheduled to feature three races on ITV, highlighted by the William Hill Half A Mill Grand National Trial Handicap Chase, where Myretown - trained jointly by Lucinda Russell and Michael Scudamore - will complete his preparation for the Cheltenham Festival.
At Wincanton, where the Grade 2 BetMGM Kingwell Hurdle serves as the feature race, clerk of the course Tom Ryall expressed cautious optimism: "It's very much precautionary - we are fairly comfortable with the forecast we've got."
Dawson's decision regarding A Likeable Rogue represents a calculated approach to horse management, prioritizing long-term development over immediate Festival glory while securing the horse's future with his current ownership team.
