JASON Kiely of Herberstown, Co Limerick is plying his trade as travelling head lad and work rider for David Cottin’s Chantilly-based stables. Easysland brought a maiden Cheltenham success for the team with an emphatic 17-length win in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase at last year’s Cheltenham Festival.

Looking after him and riding him out everyday, Jason is filled with confidence that Easysland can double the yard’s Cheltenham Festival winner tally this year.

Tell us about your preparations for attending this year’s Festival and how they differ from last year.

Obviously many things have changed over the previous 12 months, but the buzz is still there and I have been preparing for the festival as best I can. There is a lot more paperwork to do and numerous Covid tests, so that isn’t easy!

I was over in Warwick a few weeks ago with one of our runners and I’ve had a few trips to Cheltenham since last year, so I know what to expect now and am well prepared.

Working Easysland, everything has gone smoothly and he should arrive at Cheltenham in tip-top shape. He has done plenty of grass gallops, loads of schooling and I expect him to show his best on March 17th – touch wood!

The experience of being at this year’s Cheltenham Festival will be very different. What part(s) will you miss the most? And will there be any advantages?

It’s a real shame that it will be different this year and as a result there are a lot of things I will miss. I’m lucky enough to have spent eight seasons working and race-riding in the UK before moving to France and in that time, I have made a lot of friends in our tight-knit world. Cheltenham was always a chance to catch up with them – whether it be it going to say a quick ‘bonjour’ to the lads in the weigh-room, or getting encouraged (and consoled) by some old faces leaning over the rail on the way to and from the track, or simply just the craic to be had throughout the days racing (and into the night!).

On a selfish note, the fact that the racecourse will be a lot emptier will mean it will be easier to keep focused and keep our horses as calm as possible. There is always lots of tension in the preliminaries and some handle it better than others.

Can you tell us a little bit about Easysland? What is he like at home in the yard?

Where to start? I have a bond with Easysland that is unlike anything I’ve experienced before. I’ve been with him for a long time now and we’ve gotten to know each other incredibly well.

He knows he’s the boss, he knows he’s the favourite and he definitely knows he’s good. He loves kicking the door for his food. He isn’t the biggest fan of being brushed and he loves eating his hay over the door, making a mess all over the yard.

Easysland has an impressive action and plenty of presence on the gallops, he almost always goes in front.

Leaving aside your own runner, what other race are you looking forward to seeing and why?

I’ve always been a fan of the Champion Hurdle, it has been my favourite race for as long as I can remember. This year it looks as though Honeysuckle will be very difficult to beat and she could go on to be one of the best we’ve ever seen.

In the same race I am looking forward to seeing James Du Berlais, who will be having his first start for Willie Mullins.

He was a top-class animal over here in France and just lost out on two Grade 1s in head-bobbing finishes. If the ground was to come up soft then he could run a big race.

I would also love to see the legend Buveur D’Air back in the spotlight. We all know how much these horses catch our imagination and if this guy was to get in the frame, then I’m sure he would make all that hard work behind the scenes worth it.

Easysland’s win last year was huge for the Cottin yard and yourself. What makes the yard target Cheltenham and what did a winner there mean to you all?

Last year’s success will be one we’ll remember forever and really got the fire burning for this season.

I guess David is just one of those trainers that wants to be seen on the big stage. He rode at Cheltenham as a jockey himself and knows how prestigious a festival winner is.

We are lucky to have such a high calibre of horse in the yard and I hope that we have runners at the Cheltenham Festival for many years to come.

He and I often talk about potential horses for the UK (or Ireland) and I know he would love to be represented in the Grand National. We have two entries in the race this year – it’s a very exciting time for the yard.

Compiled by Brian O’Keeffe