Warrington based Dave, 68, shares the improving Dan Skelton-trained hurdler with nine others in the Noel Fehily Racing Syndicate, including his business partner Paula Rafftery.
The six-year-old enhanced his growing reputation with a gritty success in a Class 2 hurdle at Aintree in October and is now set to step up in grade in a valuable brush hurdles event at Haydock – Dave’s local track.
“I’ve never had a winner at Haydock so it would be a special day if Ace could do that,” he says. “He just keeps improving so we’re all very excited about what he might go on to achieve this season.”
Dave bought a share in the French-bred gelding to rekindle his interest in ownership after recovering from a heart attack and shedding 40lb – a fitness regime that enabled him to also revive his love for running with remarkable results.
“I didn’t think I’d be able to run after my surgery but my cardiologist encouraged me and I didn’t look back.” He adds. Dave was talent spotted in a local run and went on to represent Wales and Great Britain over 1500m and 3,000m at Masters level, winning a medal in the United States last year.
“I was so happy I gave my cardiologist my medal to help inspire others who have gone through heart surgery,” adds Dave, whose zest for life took another boost when Ace Of Spades began winning.
Success at Cheltenham a year ago, when the horse returned to the winner’s enclosure to strains of Motorhead’s song of the same name, gave the syndicate hope that Noel Fehily and his business partner Dave Crosse had found them something special.
Ace Of Spades followed up that win with another at Kelso over Christmas and returned from a six-month break to score his most notable win so far off a career high rating of 127. Now they are dreaming of returning to Cheltenham later in the season for one of the big races at the Festival.
Crosse explains: “We’re very keen to take him to Haydock and give Dave his local winner. We have an alternative race in mind at Ascot if the ground turns heavy and if things go well this winter we will definitely consider the Festival.
“Something like the Pertemps Final could be ideal for him depending on how he progresses, but we haven’t given up hope that he might be a Stayers’ Hurdle contender,” he says.
“Getting involved with Noel and Dave has been brilliant for us,” adds Dave. “They keep us well informed and make the ownership experience a lot of fun. We’ve now got shares in another nice prospect with them, Giantsgrave, so I’m hoping this is the start of an unforgettable season.”
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