'I'll improve him a stone and a half!' - Baker eyes festival for Mullins recruit

Few trainers will have races in Bahrain, Gloucestershire and Nashville on their agendas this year but George Baker has and he is daring to dream of scoring at the Cheltenham Festival with Jon Snow.

Once regarded as an exciting prospect for Willie Mullins and Susannah Ricci, Jon Snow has joined Baker's Surrey yard and is now in the ownership of Pjl Racing and Paul Bowden.

The eight-year-old was on Tuesday entered in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham in March and can be backed at 33-1 for that, although it is not his only festival option.

"We need a qualifying run to go for that race but the plan is to go to the festival, so if he ends up in one of the handicap hurdles instead, then so be it," Baker said on Wednesday.

George Baker: trainer had runners in Bahrain last weekCredit: Alan Crowhurst

"A few people ribbed me about buying one from Willie but he's a good mate and he recommended him as a fun horse – obviously I'll improve him a stone and a half, so we'll go there with pounds in hand!

"The National Hunt Chase is the target, but the Cross Country Chase is also in our minds. He was bought to go to the festival and, in true Willie Mullins style, he'll probably have several entries across the board."

Baker, who started training in 2007, has diversified his business in recent years, setting up a satellite operation in Bahrain, where he had runners last week.

Further far-flung destinations could feature for Jon Snow as well, and he added: "We're also looking at the Iroquois Steeplechase in Nashville, Tennessee in May as he'd be a good one for that. The prize-money is amazing, so Cheltenham then America would be perfect.

"He's just had a racecourse gallop and will have another soon which will tell me whether we run in the first or second week of February, or the third week. He's a gorgeous horse who gallops and jumps, and Willie told me plenty before I bought him.

"We'll see where we are and if he goes straight to the festival for a handicap hurdle or has a run over fences to qualify for the National Hunt Chase."

Of his somewhat unconventional approach, the mainly Flat-focused Baker said: "When we started training I was 50-50 with jumpers and the Flat, but it evolved to the Flat. I still love the jumps and this sport is an all-year-round gig, so you have to be involved 365 days, and some quality jumpers in the winter would be fantastic.

"We've horses in Bahrain and I'd love 12 there in the winter, another 12 spread across Saudi Arabia and the Gulf region, and maybe have horses in France in the summer; you've got to look at every option to reward your owners.

"I love racing in Britain and the big festivals here, but the midweek betting shop fodder can be a bit depressing financially."

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