IT might be close to three decades since Harry Rogers trained his first winner, but he is set to break new ground in his career today when saddling his first runner over jumps in the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle Qualifier (2.20) at Cheltenham.

The Co Louth-based handler is taking aim at the Cotswolds with his €110,000 BoyleSports Handicap Hurdle winner from this year’s Galway Festival, Grann’s Boy, and the services of Darragh O’Keeffe have been secured for the yard’s maiden Cheltenham voyage.

With an additional 2lb added to his Irish rating of 136, the six-time winner is among the highest weights for this afternoon’s three-mile event. However, there’s every chance the combination of ground and trip on offer at Cheltenham will play right to his strengths - and he’s following a familiar path to success in this race.

The Wallpark, who won the same Ballybrit contest as Grann’s Boy two years ago, followed up by winning this race on his very next start that season. Rogers told The Irish Field: “It’s a pity he’s got so much weight to carry [11st 6lb] but hopefully he’ll run a nice race and come back safe and sound in one piece. We’ve never had a run over jumps in England before, it’s our first time. Hopefully, three miles around Cheltenham will suit him well.

“He’s a good horse and has been great for us in the last few years. I think he’s still a chaser in the making, whenever we let him go down that road over fences. Three miles looks a nice trip to try with him.”