Derek Fox on his Cheltenham Festival chances: 'I think Myretown is still very well handicapped'

Derek Fox is looking forward to the 2026 Cheltenham Festival where he will ride Myretown in the Ultima Handicap Chase and King Of Answers in the National Hunt Chase.

Fox has enjoyed plenty of success at the Cheltenham Festival in recent years. He is best known for guiding Corach Rambler to back-to-back victories in the Ultima Handicap Chase.

He is also a two-time winner of the Aintree Grand National, having partnered One For Arthur to victory in 2017 before repeating the feat aboard Corach Rambler in 2023.

Much of Fox’s success has come through his long-standing relationship with trainer Lucinda Russell. Over the years the pair have developed a strong team partnership, which has seen him ride a number of high-class horses including Ahoy Senor and Corach Rambler.

Looking ahead to Cheltenham, Derek Fox was speaking with Irish Racing via Netbet Cheltenham betting about the importance of staying relaxed during the festival. With the intense atmosphere and huge crowds, he believes keeping calm allows jockeys to make the right decisions in the heat of a race.

Fox also pointed to a horse in Russell’s yard that he believes could be one to watch next season. He feels the youngster has the potential to improve significantly once going over fences and could develop into a very nice prospect in novice chases.

How are things with Myretown?

He hasn’t had a clear run this year. He went straight for the Coral Cup and took a fall early.

He was running a massive race at Haydock and he made a horrible mistake at the third last.

He would have gone very close that day if he hadn’t made that mistake. He didn’t get home the last day in the Grand National Trial back at Haydock. I think he didn’t just show up that day, but he’s in good order at home and I’m looking forward to getting him back to Cheltenham.

He’s in great order. If we get there in one piece, although he got a good hike for winning the race last year, I think he’s still very well handicapped.

I think he has more improvement in him. He is prone to the odd jumping error, so if he can get into a good rhythm jumping it will be key. I think that’ll be the key to him.

You’ve had great success in the race, winning it twice

Looking back at the race, Corach Rambler was a great horse for me but he couldn’t be more unlike Myretown.

Corach always just did the bare minimum, Especially the first year, he never really travelled through the first circuit and I thought I was fairly far back. Then the second year he would come alive.

Myretown loves to jump in the bridle.

I thought I was fairly far back again, and the second year I managed to keep them a wee bit closer, but it was still a long way back. But Corach would come alive the further he’d go, whereas Myretown loves to really jump into the bridle and go, and he’s attacking from the first fence. If anyone wants to go faster than him, he’ll take them on.

So they’re very, very different styles of running, but two very talented horses nonetheless.

You also have King On Answers in the National Hunt Chase. How is he?

Yeah, I think he’ll go for the 3 mile 6 novice chase. We had Mighty Thunder who won the Scottish National a few years ago and he reminds me a wee bit of him. He looks a wee bit like him as well.

He’s not the biggest horse, but he jumps the fences well and he’s improving all the time. I think he’s improved at every run and I have no doubt the step up to 3 miles 6 furlongs will bring further improvement in him.

So I'm looking forward to him. He put in a lovely round of jumping and then a good run to win well at Kelso the last day. I think he’s definitely an exciting novice chaser and I’m really looking forward to him over the trip

What is the buzz like winning a race at the Cheltenham Festival as a jockey?

Yeah well obviously I was lucky enough to get two winners there on Corach Rambler and it’s just magnificent. It’s the atmosphere, the buzz - it’s the childhood dream as they say.

I’ve been very lucky to have those two winners there and I’ve had some very, very good runs as well. Big River was fourth in the Ultima. He was fourth and fifth there two years in a row so he ran very well. Ahoy Senor was second there as well in the Brown Advisory

And I was third on Sky Khan back as a conditional jockey a good few years ago now.

I’ve been lucky riding for Lucinda Russell and the Scudamore's - every year I go down there I seem to have a ride that’s competitive anyway, and that’s all you can ask for. I was very lucky to get the two winners and hopefully we can get another one this year.

Conman John looks an exciting horse for next season. We won’t see him at the Festival this year, but does he excite you?

Yeah, Conman John - he’s in the same colours as Myretown and Ahoy Senor. He won nicely at Kelso and then won a novice at Cheltenham after that. He’s very exciting. He just got beaten in a Grade 2 novice there on his third start.

I think he’s a very talented horse. He’s a super jumper and I think he’ll stay well as well. He’s just a nice type to make into a good novice chaser.

It’s unfortunate we couldn’t have him there this year, but hopefully it’s not too serious and we’ll get him back. He’s definitely one to look forward to for the future.

When arriving into Cheltenham on Tuesday, is there a different feeling in the weighing room? Are there any butterflies?

Yeah listen, it’s like everything. You go racing all year round and you have to take it professionally and approach it in a professional manner every day. Get yourself organised and be there in good shape.

But Cheltenham is very special. It’s where everyone wants to win, there’s no shortcut.

When you’re going under the tunnel you want to be there in plenty of time, go out and get a run around the track, have a look at the ground and just be organised early. It brings that extra bit of tension but hopefully in a good way.

I like to think it’s good anticipation and good excitement. I love it and really look forward to it, so I’m very excited to get down there on Tuesday.

If there was one horse that excites Derek Fox for the future, who would it be?

I suppose Derryhassen Paddy was third there last year in the Albert Bartlett. We’ve just had a bit of bad luck with small injuries. He’s a bit like Conman John, he’s picked up a little injury.

He’s not going to make it to Cheltenham this year, but he was second in a novice chase earlier in the year. There were only three runners, but the winner was Sixmilebridge, who has done very well since.

I think when Derryhassen Paddy gets over that injury and gets back, there’ll be plenty more to come from him.

He’s probably one for the future to look out for.

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