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Jan aims to be the man again at Kelso on Grey

Jan Faltejsek and Fairlee Grey winning at Ayr last time
Jan Faltejsek and Fairlee Grey winning at Ayr last timeCredit: John Grossick

The horse: Fairlee Grey

The race: totescoop6 Premier Kelso Novices Hurdle (3.25) Grade 2 run over 2m2f

The story The Czech Republic comes to lowland Scotland in the shape of Jan Faltejsek who is out to win the feature for the third time, ten years on from his groundbreaking first success with Bywell Beau.

That victory, for today's trainer and Faltejsek's mentor George Charlton, put the fearless 34-year-old on the map and he is now better known for his association with stablemate Knockara Beau who he also steered to glory in this £36,000 contest in 2009.

Since then, Knockara Beau has gone onto great things with Faltejsek in the plate, most notably when giving him his biggest win to date in the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham three years ago.

The team are back after an eight-year hiatus, in which time the jockey had a spell in France, with the fast improving Fairlee Grey who is going the right way judging by his recent 24-length victory at Ayr and is described as "a bit of a tool" by his trainer.

He says Fairlee Grey is not like Knockara Beau as he wants to get on with it and I have strong arms from riding him out in the mornings. We've learnt that if you fight him you are going to lose and we'll probably make the running as usual. He's going the right way and George is very happy with him but this is his biggest test.

Paul Nicholls and Harry Fry are both represented and it will be interesting to see how he measures up, while Malcolm Jefferson has the improving Mount Mews in the race and he's a very good trainer who can be expected to have his runner spot on for the big day.

That said, I wouldn't swap my fellow in the race and just like every day since I came over from the Czech Republic, I'm living the dream, no doubt about it. We'll be doing our best to make the dream of winning this race for a third time come true."

Newmarket correspondent

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