David Maxwell: 'Cheltenham was gutting - but I've got ten years left to win it'

David Maxwell's Cheltenham Festival dream was dashed at the ninth fence in the hunter chase last week but he remains as eager as ever to land the big race for amateurs – even if it takes another ten years.

Maxwell, who owns and rides horses as his passion outside a career in property finance and development, admits he was "gutted" after the fall of 11-2 chance Bob And Co at Cheltenham, and he will likely select the 11-year-old as his ride over Cat Tiger in the Randox Foxhunters' Chase over the Grand National fences on April 7.

The pair teamed up to win at the Punchestown festival last season but a repeat bid is not on the cards this time around with Maxwell instead eyeing a tilt at the Grand Steeplechase de Paris at Auteuil later in the year.

'Cheltenham hurt, but it didn't hurt anywhere near as bad as that'

The €820,000 prize, traditionally known as the French Gold Cup, is worth more than the Cheltenham equivalent and Maxwell would be the first amateur to ride in the race – and he has no plans of stopping quite yet either.

Maxwell said: "Cheltenham was gutting, absolutely gutting, but that's why winning is so much fun. Most of the time you get beaten and you have to suck it up.

"I felt so sorry for David Christie [trainer of narrow runner-up Winged Leader], he's a wonderful man and really wanted it – he so nearly got there.

David Maxwell: 'I'll know when the time's right'Credit: Racing Post / Scott Burton

"Guys like me and him have been trying to win that race at Cheltenham for years, so when we do it we'll have to give up. I was called by Will Ramsay and he was talking about his season; he's 53 and I'm 43, so I suppose I've got ten more years. I'm travelling on the bridle at the moment.

"I'll know when the time's right. It'll be when I don't think about getting in the car in London and driving three and a half hours to Ludlow for one ride in a hunter chase. I still now get in the car and think 'whoo' for that."

Cat Tiger is the shortest of the Maxwell duo entered at Aintree, at odds of 6-1 with Coral and Unibet. He was third in the race last season but was down the field in the Kim Muir at Cheltenham.

Bob And Co, an 8-1 chance next month, is the likely choice with a sense of unfinished business from Cheltenham.

Maxwell recalled the race, saying: "I was super happy with where I was. You can't tell what could've happened because of where he fell but he was exactly where I wanted, down the inner, nice and settled and jumping well.

"I'll probably ride him [Bob And Co] at Aintree. I was saying to Paul I might take him to the Grand Steeplechase after. I was going to go a couple of years ago but then Covid happened. He'll stay the trip and he settles better now. No amateur has ridden in the race before."

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