'We've got a good shot' says former football chairman dreaming of Cheltenham win

Former football chairman David Sharpe was at the helm for two divisional titles and one of the biggest shocks in recent FA Cup history, but is now dreaming of a different type of sporting success with Chosen Mate at the Cheltenham Festival.

Sharpe was the youngest football chairman in England when given the top job at Wigan Athletic in 2015 at the age of 23, taking over from his grandfather Dave Whelan, then the club's owner. In Sharpe's three and a half years, the club won the Sky Bet League One title in 2016 and 2018. They also defeated Premier League giants Manchester City in the FA Cup on a famous night.

Now Sharpe is part of the Northern Four Racing Partnership – he describes them as "lads who love their football and their racing" – that owns Chosen Mate, a general 10-1 chance for the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase and 16-1 for the Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate.

Chosen Mate is trained in Ireland by Gordon Elliott but the owners are based in the north of England and Sharpe's football links are represented by his racing silks in Wigan's blue and white stripes, even though he left the club following a change of ownership.

"Cheltenham's always what you want when you buy a horse and when they're with Gordon they've got more of a chance of getting there," said Sharpe.

"We didn't manage to get him there last year but we've always thought chasing was Chosen Mate's game and it's so far, so good. To get to the Cheltenham Festival, and with a good shot, is what you dream of.

"I've been involved with a few horses and it's been great. I really enjoy it and going over to Ireland to watch them is brilliant."

David Sharpe (second right) with Chosen MateCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Chosen Mate put himself firmly in the festival picture with an emphatic victory in a beginners' chase at Gowran Park last month.

Connections had been weighing up the Northern Trust Company Novices' Handicap Chase but his rating of 147 was too high.

"We were quite surprised by his win at Gowran Park," said Sharpe. "We didn't expect the manner of victory as we weren't sure if he'd handle the ground. Being ridden more prominently seems to have done the trick.

"He's in the Grand Annual, which I think would suit him, and the Plate. We'll let Gordon decide."

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