Rothwell's Future Proof snaps long losing run

Future Proof (11/1) gained his first win since October 2020 whan landing the second split of the Fleadh Cheoil Wexford August 4th - 11th Handicap Hurdle.

Paddy O'Hanlon brought him from mid-division to lead at the second-last and kept him going on the run to the line to hold long-absent Johnny Clarke by a neck.

Now a four-time winner (twice on the Flat along with two hurdles), nine-year-old Future Proof is trained by Philip Rothwell for Eric Newnham.

"He was a fun horse that we kept for one of the girls in the yard to ride in a charity race at Punchestown,” said Rothwell.

“He's a great old school master, a lovely horse and very easy to do anything with. He's one that we're going to sell and it's brilliant that he's come and won for us today.

“If some young person out there wanted a school master he's for sale and he won't be expensive. I think he'll win again as well.

“If he's not sold he'll run away for the summer and then get sold.

“It's brilliant to get another winner for Eric (Newnham), who is London based. Phils Choice won for me at Limerick over Christmas and we have her to look after.

“This year want we're trying to do is to keep moving the lower grade handicappers. I'm limited to 60 stables and we're going to try and build a better team, slowly but surely.

“I think with the price of the point-to-pointers and the stores at the moment there is a huge opportunity to build things.

“We're going to try and move in that direction but to do that we have to free up boxes so we need to keep selling these guys.”

Quotes from Gary Carson