11 March 2024 , 11:05
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Football legend Michael Owen has given his verdict on the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
The ex-England striker believes reigning champion Galopin Des Champs might find a new challenger too strong this year.
"I have a sneaky feeling Shishkin will be one to watch in Gold Cup," he said. "Even though I usually go for Flat racing, I have owned jumpers in the past and I think Shishkin could run a massive race."
Shishkin is trained by Nicky Henderson, who has won the Festival's feature race with Long Run in 2011 and Bobs Worth two years later. This year's runner from Seven Barrows struck at two editions, taking the Supreme Novices Hurdle and Arkle Chase.
However in recent years he has not enjoyed the same luck, pulling up in the Queen Mother Champion Chase and running second to Envoi Allen in the Ryanair Chase.
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At Christmas he was heading for the King George winning line at Kempton when he tripped.
"He was traveling really well and could have potentially won it before unseating," Owen said, speaking to The Winners' Enclosure.
Galopin Des Champs finished seven lengths clear of Bravemansgame in last year's Boodles-backed event and he arrives at Cheltenham fresh from two Grade One successes at Leopardstown.
Trainer Nicky Henderson with star chaser Shishkin (Getty)Trained by Willie Mullins, who has many favourites across the 28 races, the reigning champion is 5-4 with the bookies, while Shishkin is 6-1.
Henderson did have the hot favourite for the Champion Hurdle in Constitution Hill, but a health scare ruled him out at the last minute. The trainer has had one winner out of eight runners in the last fortnight, during a quiet build-up to National Hunt racing's big fixture.
Owen will be watching the action closely, along with his former Man Utd boss Sir Alex Ferguson.
They worked together at Old Trafford from 2009 to 2012 - and both now share a love for horse racing, owning a number of thoroughbreds.
Owen joked that Sir Alex only signed him to could discuss the other highly competitive sport.
Michael Owen and Sir Alex Ferguson are big fans of horse racing"Our passions absolutely crossed paths, I think he only signed me so he could share tips! Sir Alex calls me a lot on Saturdays and we talk about football and racing," he said.
“He has two horses at my stables so we have a lot in common, and of course, he is obviously retired now and following his horses around the world and having great success so it’s great to see. We used to talk at Manchester United about horses and tips.”
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Ferguson has six horses who look set to run at Cheltenham, with Protektorat and Hitman his most successful team members. The 82-year-old’s L’Eau du Sud is an 8-1 shot for the County Hurdle on Friday.
Owen added that other footballers are now following them into the sport at Manor House Stables, which he owns in Cheshire.
"We’ve got the Brighton team, about 11 of them own three horses with us.," he added.
"Six of the Liverpool team own horses with us. A group of my colleagues of ex-players and TV colleagues like Paul Scholes, Steve McManaman, Ian Wright, Owen Hargreaves and Andy Townsend to name a few. A lot of the Burnley team have got horses with us so there is a big passion for horses and racing. "