FIREWORKS could be set to fly in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper when 18-year-old amateur jockey John Gleeson - one of the youngest riders at the Cheltenham Festival - combines with one of the meeting’s elder statesmen, 85-year-old training legend John Kiely.

Gleeson is full of excitement to continue his partnership with ante-post favourite A Dream To Share in the final race on day two of the Festival, with Frank Berry, racing manager to the five-year-old’s new owner J.P. McManus, confirming the bright teenage talent will keep the plum ride next week.

The brilliant Dublin Racing Festival winner has gone unbeaten in his only three starts when previously carrying the colours of the jockey’s mother Claire.

Bred by the rider’s father and racing broadcaster Brian Gleeson, the top-priced 7/2 market leader has been described as having “all the attributes” needed for the top-level test.

“It’s really exciting to be heading there with a chance like him,” the promising young rider told The Irish Field.

“John Kiely has been extremely good to me for as long as I can remember - he has taught me everything - so to be going to Cheltenham with him is a dream, really. John is a gentleman. He’s brought me along from an early age and I can’t thank him enough for what he’s done for me. Every day you’re with John, you definitely come away having learned something.”

Gleeson will be riding at his first Cheltenham Festival but has already experienced riding at the track when finishing third in a bumper at Prestbury Park in November on the Denis Hogan-trained Thecompanysergeant.

He suggested there could be even more improvement to come from A Dream To Share’s win in the Grade 2 Shabra Charity Oliver Brady Memorial Future Stars Bumper.

“It’s a privilege to be putting on those [J.P. McManus] colours at Cheltenham,” said Gleeson.

“It’s a childhood dream, really. I would have grown up watching these silks having great success on television, so to be riding in them over there is special.

“A Dream To Share brought his form to another level at Leopardstown. He’s improving the whole time and is one we’ve always liked at home from an early stage. I’ve actually ridden him every day since he arrived in John’s so I know him very well, which is obviously a big help.

“The Champion Bumper is renowned as a tough race but he seems to have all the attributes for it. He has every right to go there and I certainly wouldn’t swap him for anything else in the race.”