Pig farmer out to make the big guns squeal with Irish Roe in Betfair Hurdle

Leading Betfair Hurdle fancy Irish Roe, who bids to land Britain's richest handicap hurdle for one of the country's smallest yards, completed her build-up for Newbury with a workout in Middleham on Wednesday.

The four-time hurdle winner, who is officially 11lb well in on Saturday after being put up by the handicapper since the weights came out, is one of just two horses trained by Northallerton permit-holder and pig farmer Peter Atkinson.

And she delighted Atkinson's wife Lucinda, who was on board as the mare worked alongside her sole stablemate Reverant Cust.

Peter and Lucinda Atkinson with Irish RoeCredit: Steve Dennis

"She felt fine," Lucinda Atkinson said. "She felt exactly how she always does, fresh in herself and up for it. She had a pipe-opener over three furlongs then went seven furlongs and that's her last bit of work, she'll just get lunged for the next two days and go down on Friday.

"We haven't got an all-weather gallop so for us to do any decent work it's either go round the fields in the mud or go to Middleham."

Betfair Hurdle card and betting

But Atkinson is at a loss to know what to expect from Irish Roe, who is a best-priced 11-1 for Saturday's £155,000 race with William Hill.

"We've never been in this situation before," she said. "We've never had a horse like this. We are feeling our way. But she's improving every time and she's not going to be off 134 in a handicap again for a long time.

"She's got a lovely temperament, she takes everything in her stride and nothing fazes her. The only thing we are a little worried about is the parade because there has been the odd time when she's been a bit on her toes and a bit of nightmare to get out on to the track."

In Saturday's Racing Post: a colourful interview with connections of Betfair Hurdle hope Irish Roe (online from 6pm on Friday)

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