Harriet Graham and Gary Rutherford team up with first joint-licence in Scotland

Harriet Graham will begin a new training partnership with Gary Rutherford on Sunday, with the pair set to become the first joint-licence holders in Scotland.

Graham, who trains Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup entry Aye Right, will combine forces with the former jockey who has been involved in pre-training for several years in a five-horse yard based next to Graham's stable in the Scottish Borders.

With 11 horses currently in training, Graham is hopeful the partnership will lead to a stable expansion and views the joint-licence as a way of giving credit to Rutherford's long-standing input in the yard.

"Gary has worked for us for years and has always wanted to be a trainer," said Graham. "We thought this was a really good way forward for both of us. He's young and enthusiastic but it's so hard for someone without any backing to start as a trainer.

Millarville: lined up as one of the first runners for the new partnership on TuesdayCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

"We have all the facilities and he's been doing a lot of pre-training and work with Flat horses, so we thought it was a good way forward that would keep him with us. Others are desperate for people like Gary to break in their horses for them, he does such a good job with them.

"It's really giving him credit for how much he puts into the operation as well. Gary lives and breathes horses and that's the kind of person you want to have as a partner and trainer. I get on with him very well and we really trust each other."

Graham is aiming to increase the size of the yard to take in up to 20 horses, with Rutherford keen to branch out into dual-purpose runners.

"My love will always be jumps and Gary is keen to do some Flat racing as well," said Graham. "If you've got 20 nice horses and a few winners every season, that seems like quite a good business plan to me."

The new partnership will saddle their first runners at Newcastle on Tuesday, with Don Brocco and recent winner Millarville both candidates to get them off to a flying start.

'We'll probably have a tilt at the Gold Cup'

The joint-trainers will be keeping one eye firmly fixed on Aye Right's entry for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, for which he is 66-1 after a creditable third in Saturday’s Cotswold Chase behind Chantry House.

Graham said: "Aye Right was my last runner in my sole name and it was a fantastic run. He's so game and for a split second I thought he might nick it.

"He jumped like a stag. On this ground they came back at him but you can't take anything away from him after running like that.

Aye Right: currently priced at 66-1 for the Gold Cup in MarchCredit: John Grossick

"We'll probably have a tilt at the Gold Cup and I'm so chuffed with him, he gave every ounce. The only thing that beat him was the ground and two good horses."

Also on the horizon for Graham and Rutherford is the final of the Racing Post Go North Series, which is set to take place over three days at the end of March at Musselburgh, Kelso and Carlisle.

"We're definitely going to target those series finals," added Graham, a former clerk of the course at Musselburgh. "I've been frustrated in the past as I've always seemed to just miss the qualifications, and they're tricky as you're not able to change distances at any point to qualify.

"It seems crazy that you can win a Go North qualifier and you've still not qualified for the final, but if you've run in them twice and come last then you do. I don't get that theory."

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