CIARON Maher has sent his British-bred Galleywood Hurdle winner Big Blue back to the country of his birth with the aim of taking on Cheltenham. “I rate Big Blue right up there with my former top jumper Bashboy,” said Maher who trains in partnership with David Eustace. “I think Big Blue is the right horse to take to England. Big Blue jumps well and stays well, but he will be taking on the best hurdlers in the world. He’s going to have to be at the top of his game to win in England.”

Starting out his career with Andre Fabre and Godolphin, Big Blue made his debut for Godolphin in Australia in April 2017 before being sold the following year to Colin McKenna, Ciaron Maher’s long-time financial backer and prominent industry figure in Warrnambool.