Why Costello hopes for a lucky break this time around

On this corresponding day, 12 months ago, the jockey broke his leg when John Quinn’s Veiled Applause fell in a low-key race at Stratford. His Cheltenham dreams were shattered in an instant and everyone within the sport felt for a rider who had worked hard to earn his place at jump racing’s Olympics.

He had to watch Tom Scudamore takes his place on the Neil Mulholland-trained Midnight Chase from Warwick Hospital four days later and was torn between wanting the horse to win for its connections – or hoping that Midnight Chase’s challenge would fade so he wouldn’t be remembered as the luckless jockey who missed a winning Gold Cup ride.

That said, 29-year-old Costello – who served his jumping apprenticeship in Malton and continues to ride for Yorkshire trainers when not required by the likes of Mulholland or Ian Williams – believes the 10-year-old is better equipped for the Gold Cup now than last year when he went to Cheltenham on the back of a hectic campaign.

This year, the bay gelding has trained more sparingly. After falling in his comeback race at Down Royal when the ground was unsuitably heavy, he defied top weight to finish a very creditable third to Grand National contender According To Pete in Wetherby’s Rowland Meyrick Chase on Boxing Day before running away with the Argento Chase, Cheltenham’s Gold Cup trial, in the January.

It was the horse’s fifth victory at jump racing’s spiritual home, leaving Costello confident that his mount can improve on last year’s fifth-place finish.

“He’s very well in himself – and a lot stronger,” the jockey told the Yorkshire Post.

“Last year was his first full campaign over fences and he needed to get a season under his belt. I was riding him with experience in mind – there was always a little bit of safety. I always thought he’d be better this year and the Argento, well believe me, he’s never run better.

“He fell at Down Royal and took a right hefty slap, but the ground wasn’t suitable. The Rowland Meyrick form is rock solid and the Argento couldn’t have been better.”

Midnight Chase runs in the colours of Lady Hilda Clarke, widow of Northern Racing founder Stan Clarke, who owned the 1997 Grand National winner Lord Gyllene.

He is expected to set the Gold Cup pace – but Costello will settle his horse if a rival tries to outjump Midnight Chase with blistering speed. “If they do, I’ll know they’ve gone too fast and won’t win,” he said.

Yet, while the Gold Cup build-up has revolved around Kauto Star and Long Run, Costello would actually be more worried if Burton Port and Barry Geraghty loomed large on the turn for home.

“I just don’t think Long Run is jumping well enough. He’s been on the go for three years now, he may have peaked, while my boy may be approaching his peak,” he explained. “I know Long Run beat Burton Port at Newbury, but he was closing at the end and he’d been off for longer than a year. He stays well and he’s definitely the one to beat.”

Though his book of rides is, perhaps, not as strong as the one that he had put together a year ago, Costello certainly has the support of his peers – he is one of the weighing room’s most popular riders.

He rides Royal Bonsai for Malton-based Quinn in the Fred Winter Juvenile Hurdle on Wednesday. A 20-1 prospect after an impressive victory at Doncaster in December.

Costello, pictured, offered this bold prediction: “I think he will be in the first three.”

He also rates Quinn’s Countryside Flame who holds entries in both the Fred Winter and the Triumph Hurdle. “He’s running very well, second and third in Grade Ones at Chepstow and Leopardstown. That’s good experience,” he said. Costello is eager to arrive safely. “Every jockey wants a Festival winner – and I can’t tell you how difficult it was last year watching, and not being able to do anything about it. I’m still waiting for my first win – hopefully it will be this year.”