Horse racing owner Stuart Andrew remains unhurried about preparing last year's Randox Grand National winner Nick Rockett for a title defense. The nine-year-old gelding could make his seasonal debut in the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup on March 13. Andrew views the race as an ideal preparation despite it being the horse's first outing.
Nick Rockett, the hero of the previous Randox Grand National, has not raced this season following an overreach injury during training. To qualify for this year's renewal at Aintree, the low-mileage nine-year-old must compete over fences beforehand. With just 13 career starts, the horse's connections prioritize a measured approach.
Stuart Andrew, the owner, expressed optimism on the Nick Luck Daily Podcast about targeting the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup as a stepping stone. The event is scheduled for March 13, providing about a month before the Grand National. "I think it’s the ideal distance for him to recover, I think we’ve a month between races, and I don’t think the ground will be bottomless at Cheltenham, or at Aintree," Andrew said.
He added that Nick Rockett performs better on firmer ground and believes the Gold Cup would serve as a pleasant return. "We think he performs slightly better on a better surface. I think it’d be a nice idea to run him in the Gold Cup, it would be nice to go there and have a day out."
Andrew credits the horse with transforming his life, noting its status as a local hero in Bradford. "Nick Rockett has literally changed my life. He’s took me to places and I’ve met wonderful people. He’s the local hero now where I live and where I’m originally from in Bradford."
The team plans to let the horse dictate readiness. "Nick Rockett will tell us when he’s ready to run. He’s not a huge galloping chaser that takes miles and miles to get him fit," Andrew explained. This cautious strategy underscores their philosophy of never rushing horses.
