Tag Archive for: jamie snowden

Snowden hopeful Wendigo can make Bartlett mark

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Jamie Snowden sees Wendigo as one sure to be suited by a step up to three miles in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle, as he seeks to add to his tally of Cheltenham Festival winners.

The Lambourn handler has prevailed at National Hunt racing’s showpiece event with Pleasant View and You Wear It Well and will take a promising team to Prestbury Park this term.

Wendigo was a dual bumper winner and has taken well to jumping obstacles, with a runner-up finish behind The New Lion in the Grade One Challow coming in between convincing victories at Ludlow and Wetherby.

Snowden said: “He was second in the Challow and has won a couple of novices so far.

“He stayed very well in the Challow, when he got himself slightly outpaced entering the home straight and did all of his best work in the final couple of furlongs.

“The step up to three miles is sure to suit and I think he’s the shortest priced of the English horses going into it.”

Hollygrove Cha Cha will attempt to emulate You Wear It Well by landing the Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle, having held on gamely for a Grade Two triumph in Sandown’s Jane Seymour event under Gavin Sheehan.

“She’s won five of her six starts now,” commented Snowden. “The only time she got beat, she was second in a Listed race at Taunton, when good ground on a sharp track just found her out a bit.

“The New course should suit her far better and it’s a race we took with You Wear It Well, so it would be nice to do the same with Hollygrove Cha Cha.

“A lot depends on how Gav finds her and how the race pans out, but we made all with You Wear It Well and Hollygrove Cha Cha can do that – and I think she’ll be better in a fast-run race.”

The November Meeting – Day Two – Cheltenham Racecourse
Ga Law is a proven Cheltenham performer (David Davies for the Jockey Club).

Ga Law has been a real money-spinner for the yard, with two of his five wins for Snowden coming at Cheltenham, including the 2022 Paddy Power Gold Cup.

The handler said: “He’s in three races; the Stayers’ Hurdle, the Ryanair and the Ultima – and the Ultima is the obvious race off 152, as he last won off 150, but it depends on the weather as well.

“The Ultima is on the Tuesday and the Stayers’ is on the Thursday and he does like nice ground, so if it looks like the nicer ground is on the Thursday, the option is there. I don’t think we will go for the Ryanair, that is the least favoured of the options.”

Super Survivor and Up For Parol could both line up in the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle, with the former generally rated a 16-1 chance and the latter available at twice those odds.

Snowden reported: “Both in the Pertemps are likely runners, I’d have thought, though Up For Parol does want soft ground and there’s another option at Uttoxeter on the Saturday. Super Survivor is a definite runner and we will just have to see what the weather does for Up For Parol.

Huntingdon Races – Thursday January 23rd
Super Survivor ridden by Gavin Sheehan on their way to winning at Huntingdon (Joe Giddens/PA).

“Super Survivor has won his last two. He was favourite for the Welsh National last year when we were going chasing and things didn’t quite work out for him that day and it took us a long time to get him back on track.

“He’s quite nicely handicapped; he’s won twice over hurdles this season to qualify for this, this is the right opportunity for him off a light weight.”

French import Marche d’Aligre is another lively contender in the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle.

“He won first time out and was second in the Grade Two (Finale Juvenile Hurdle) at Chepstow, then found the ground a little bit quick at Haydock when fourth,” said Snowden.

“But if there’s a little bit of rain, then off a nice weight, he’ll have half a chance in the Boodles.”



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Wendigo warms up for Cheltenham with easy Wetherby win

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All roads lead to the Cheltenham Festival for Wendigo following a confidence boosting victory at Wetherby.

A dual bumper winner before breaking his duck over hurdles at Ludlow in November, the six-year-old was last seen running an excellent race in defeat when filling the runner-up spot behind The New Lion in the Challow Novices’ Hurdle at Newbury over Christmas.

On the strength of that form, Jamie Snowden’s charge was a prohibitively priced 1-11 favourite to get back on the winning trail in West Yorkshire – and those who took the cramped odds will have had few concerns for the duration of the wetherbyracing.co.uk Novices’ Hurdle.

Sent straight to the lead by Gavin Sheehan, Wendigo had most of his rivals in trouble turning for home and he readily extended clear in the straight, with seven and a half lengths the winning margin.

“It’s always a relief when you’re a 1-11 shot or whatever he was. We didn’t learn a great deal today, but he’s a beautiful horse and it’s job done,” said Snowden.

“He had a hard race in the Challow, so it was a case of trying to get his confidence off the back of what was hopefully going to be an easy win on the way to Cheltenham.”

Snowden will now prepare the Great Pretender gelding for the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham, for which he is a 20-1 shot with bet365.

“From now on, he won’t have many confidence boosting easier races than this, so it was about building his confidence ready for the big day in March,” the trainer added.

“The step up to three miles and a fast-run race will suit him. He’ll be better suited coming from the off the pace.”



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Snowden leaning towards Denman Chase for Ga Law

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Ga Law is set to return to action in Denman Chase at Newbury before possibly targeting the Stayers’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

The Jamie Snowden-trained gelding was pencilled to line up for the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham last weekend, but was a non-runner due to unsuitable ground.

He has an entry for Pertemps Network Group Handicap Hurdle at Musselburgh on Sunday, although the Folly House handler revealed he favours bypassing that assignment for a trip to Newbury for the William Hill-sponsored Denman on February 8.

“He’s doing really well,” Snowden said. “I’m very happy with him, obviously we were going to go to the Cleeve Hurdle at the weekend but on the back of the frost and all that, we just figured his best form is not on soft ground.

“His best form is on good to soft or good so we just thought we would abide ourselves with a little bit of patience, but the Stayers’ Hurdle is still in the reckoning as a possible.

“Where we go from here? We’re in over hurdles at Musselburgh at the weekend, but probably favouring the Denman at Newbury the following week to be honest with you.

“The plan is the ground. If we get too picky about the ground over fences, we would never run him.

“The Stayers’ Hurdle is a possibility, we just want a little bit nicer ground so we are thinking Denman followed by Stayers’ Hurdle if that works as a route. We are just going to avoid the worst of the winter ground.”

Another star in the making for Snowden is Wendigo, who outran his odds to finish four and three-quarter lengths behind The New Lion in in the Challow Novices’ Hurdle at Newbury last month.

The six-year-old is preparing for the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle in March, with his trainer revealing he make one more appearance on track next month before his big day at Prestbury Park.

“Great, great run in the Challow, that had been the plan all along,” Snowden said. “He ran really well that day, he’s in the Albert Bartlett and that’s very much the plan.

“We will get a prep run into him in February and then the Albert Bartlett. We will have a prep run in a novice hurdle, just an ordinary novice hurdle with a penalty. He’s only got the one penalty for his Ludlow win.”



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Super Survivor continues resurgence with Huntingdon success

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Super Survivor put himself in contention for a run at the Cheltenham Festival when winning the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle at Huntingdon on Thursday.

Trained by Jamie Snowden, he was once a staying chaser on the rise and was sent off at only 11-2 for the Welsh Grand National in 2023.

However, having lost his way over the larger obstacles, he has proved rejuvenated for a switch back to timber and having already qualified for the final of the Pertemps season when third at Sandown before Christmas, cemented his credentials with this battling victory.

Snowden would be a keen for a tilt at that contest if soft ground appears in the going description at Prestbury Park, and after scoring as the 3-1 favourite in Cambridgeshire, his odds were duly cut to make an impression in the Cotswolds.

“I’m absolutely thrilled to bits. He was one of the favourites for the Welsh National, but we just lost him, absolutely lost him,” said Snowden.

“He completely lost his confidence and it has taken us a year to get him back. Last time we just saw a glimpse of the old ‘Super’ and he’s done that quite nicely.

“It’s been a good team effort and he qualified for the Pertemps at Sandown earlier in the season so we didn’t come here with the aim of qualifying.

Super Survivor back to winning ways
Super Survivor back to winning ways (Joe Giddens/PA)

“He probably needs to be plus 130 to get in that race so we will see where we go and if it came up soft then he would have a nice weight and it could prove a nice target.

“We could go back over fences one day, but why it’s clicking over hurdles why change it?”

All eyes were on Nicky Henderson as he unleashed €1.4million purchase Palladium and while the Triumph Hurdle hope obliged in division two of the Pertemps Network Maiden Hurdle, he also claimed the opening first division with La Pinsonniere (8-15 favourite) who showed plenty of bravery to hold off Alan King’s Nap Hand.

“She was tough and she was good. Nico (de Boinville) said after Windsor she wasn’t mad with that soft ground and watching her there, she doesn’t pick her feet up a lot and I don’t want it too soft,” said Henderson.

La Pinsonniere opened her account for Nicky Henderson
La Pinsonniere opened her account for Nicky Henderson (Joe Giddens/PA)

“Normally if they’ve gone round Auteuil they love it proper soft, but I’m not sure she does and I’d like to keep her for one of those good races when it dries up a bit. We don’t want to use her up too much when it’s like this.”

Meanwhile, Alastair Ralph’s Phillipa’s Choice (5-2 favourite) may have booked her ticket to a hot contest before the season is out having landed a gamble in the concluding Pertemps Network Mares’ Open Maiden National Hunt Flat Race.

Ridden by Jonathan Burke, she showed plenty of likeable attributes to hold off Slack Alice for a length-and-a-quarter victory.

Burke said: “I was trying to make it a test and get away from the bottom of the straight, but she was just waiting for company.

“I liked her when I rode her at Chepstow and learned plenty about her and I was keen to make it some sort of test today.

“When you win a bumper at this time of year it is not the time to be going hurdling so they may as well go and have a day out now, whether that’s the nice bumper at Sandown before Cheltenham or Aintree.”



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Snowden aiming Wendigo at Albert Bartlett assignment

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Jamie Snowden will scour the programme book for a suitable prep race for Wendigo ahead of the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

The six-year-old, who won a point-to-point and two bumpers before switching to hurdles this season, put in a clear career-best last time out in the Grade One Challow Hurdle at Newbury.

While no match for The New Lion, who undoubtedly sets the standard in the novice hurdling division this season, he had the likes of Grade Two winner Bill Joyce and Paul Nicholls’ highly-regarded Regent’s Stroll behind him.

Outpaced for much of the contest, he stayed on strongly and looks sure to be suited by stepping up in trip.

“Wendigo will have an entry in the Albert Bartlett and I would have thought we’ll give him a run somewhere small first as a prep run,” said Snowden.

“Ideally we’ll look for somewhere where he can run with just one penalty and that will serve its purpose as a prep run before Cheltenham.

“He’s next season’s chaser, really, that’s what he is.”

He added: “We’ve enjoyed a good spell and to be fair in October, November, December and January we’ve been operating at a really good strike-rate, it’s been a good winter for us.”



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Albert Bartlett bid on Snowden’s mind for Wendigo

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Jamie Snowden is pondering an Albert Bartlett bid in the spring for Wendigo after being delighted by his performance when chasing home The New Lion in the Challow Hurdle at Newbury.

Despite arriving for the Grade One on the back of a cosy success at Ludlow, the six-year-old was sent off a 25-1 outsider with the layers in Berkshire.

However, he defied those long odds to come home best of the opposition behind Dan Skelton’s imperious winner, who has become one of the leading fancies for novice events at the Cheltenham Festival.

Wendigo’s display now has Snowden also considering a run at National Hunt’s showpiece meeting and although his exciting prospect may be seen in calmer waters for his next start, his handler has suggested he could soon be back competing at the highest level.

Trainer Jamie Snowden has a smart team of horses this season
Trainer Jamie Snowden has a smart team of horses this season (David Davies/PA)

“Wendigo ran an absolute belter, I thought, and is a very nice horse for the future,” said Snowden.

“He wants soft ground and a trip and his future lies over a fence really, but for now he will only carry one penalty in an ordinary novice and we might look for one of those next.

“He’s had a hard race at Newbury and we’ll give him an easy time for the moment and then we’ll look to have a prep run before maybe thinking about the Albert Bartlett.”

Wendigo is just one of a smart team of young novices Snowden has assembled at his Lambourn base, and both Marche d’Aligre and Hollygrove Cha Cha acquitted themselves nicely in hot company over the Christmas period.

The former gave runaway French scorer Nietzsche Has most to think about in the Finale Hurdle at Chepstow and is another who could be given a Prestbury Park assignment in the spring.

Snowden continued: “Marche d’Aligre ran great to finish second to Nietzsche Has at Chepstow and Hollygrove Cha Cha was second in a Listed race at Taunton and we’re very lucky to have a nice bunch of young novices.

“I would have thought Marche d’Aligre might be one for the Boodles.”

On the same card as Marche d’Aligre, Snowden also saddled Julius Des Pictons, who enhanced his reputation when claiming the opening two-mile novice hurdle.

Julius Des Pictons impressed at Chepstow
Julius Des Pictons impressed at Chepstow (David Davies/PA)

The six-year-old could now be upped in class and trip on his next outing, with both Huntingdon’s Listed Sidney Banks Memorial Novices’ Hurdle on February 6 and the Listed Trustatrader Fully Vetted Tradespeople Novices’ Hurdle at Exeter three days later on Snowden’s radar.

“He looks another nice young horse and I would have thought we would look at the Listed race down at Exeter or the Sidney Banks for him,” added Snowden.

“We’ll aim for one of those two and he looks to be a lovely young horse.”



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Snowden considering drop in distance for You Wear It Well

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Jamie Snowden believes a drop in trip may help You Wear It Well break her duck over fences.

A Cheltenham Festival winner over hurdles, she has finished second and third in two outings over the bigger obstacles this season in Listed company

Over an extended two miles and a furlong at Bangor on her chasing debut, she was reeled in by Gordon Elliott’s Shecouldbeanything, while over two and a half miles at Warwick, she was caught out of her ground by the front-running Cherie d’Am before running on to finish third.

“Unfortunately, the front two just got away from her and then we were playing catch-up,” said Snowden.

“After that, we almost got caught out for playing catch-up and we almost got caught for third.

“The way the race panned out just didn’t play to our strengths, unfortunately.

“She jumps fences really well, she’ll be fine. She’s been placed in two Listed races, so it’s hardly all bad but it’s just a shame one of them hasn’t fallen our way.

“We probably should have won at Bangor but the race just got away from us at Warwick.

“I think we’ll stay over fences but we might just come back a little bit in trip, she’s probably better when she goes forward over a shorter trip.”



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Snowden considering Cleeve Hurdle option for Ga Law

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Jamie Snowden believes Ga Law had sound excuses for a rare bad run in Saturday’s December Gold Cup at Cheltenham.

Having gone close in the Paddy Power Gold Cup in November, Snowden felt his latest contest came a bit too soon after a very hard race, and on ground softer than he ideally likes.

The trainer is now weighing up options for his eight-year-old, that could include going back over hurdles.

“It was a culmination of three things. He had a hard race in the Paddy Power and it probably came a little bit too soon, he was carrying more weight – having finished second in his last three runs, he keeps going up the weights – and also the ground was softer than he likes,” said Snowden.

“We could look at the race he won last year back at Cheltenham on Trials Day but the handicapper isn’t going to drop us that much, maybe a pound or two.

“The two horses who dominated on Saturday (Gemirande and Madara) are weighted much lower than us, so if they run, we’d still be giving them lumps of weight.

“We are where we are. We’re either stepping up into graded company or giving lumps of weight away in a handicap.

“We will contemplate going up into graded company, while the other option is going back over hurdles for the Cleeve on Trials Day.

“The only two times we’ve run him over hurdles, it has been on soft ground, which he doesn’t enjoy, so other than going up in grade, the other option is the Cleeve.”



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Fugitif now fully primed for Cheltenham title defence

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Richard Hobson admitted it would “mean the world” if stable star Fugitif could become only the second horse to successfully defend the Nyetimber December Gold Cup on Saturday.

The nine-year-old enjoyed a titanic battle with Il Ridoto in last year’s renewal to land the prestigious Grade Three handicap by a short head on the New course at Cheltenham.

That pair will renew their rivalry again this weekend, after Paul Nicholls’ seven-year-old came out on top in the Paddy Power Gold Cup last month at Prestbury Park, which came two months after Fugitif had wind surgery.

Celebration time at Cheltenham last year for connections of Fugitif
Celebration time at Cheltenham last year for connections of Fugitif (Nigel French/PA)

Nicholls remains the only trainer since the race’s inception in 1963 to train the same horse to two victories in the extended two-and-a-half-mile feature, which started life as the Massey Ferguson Gold Cup.

Poquelin – the first and only horse to do so to date – recorded successive victories in 2009 and 2010 before Frodon entered the winner’s enclosure in 2016 and 2018.

Following his fifth-placed finish on his seasonal reappearance on the Old course, Hobson is optimistic Fugitif can retain his crown.

“He’s in good order. He’s where I want him to be,” the trainer said. “He was in need of that run because of the pure size of him.

“He’s a hard horse to get fit first time out in that quality of race and probably dropped himself out a bit far thinking his breathing was going to affect him.

Fugitif (white cap) renews rivalry with Il Ridoto (pink colours)
Fugitif (white cap) renews rivalry with Il Ridoto (pink colours) (Nigel French/PA)

“Now that he knows he can breathe again, he will go out there with a different frame of mind – and he has been at home, to be fair.

“What is the beauty of him on Saturday is that he will be meeting the likes of Il Ridoto fairly now, because he wasn’t for some time. He’s had some battles with him giving heaps of weight away.

“He’s got a chance off his current mark on what he’s performed at and what he’s achieved before.”

Hobson added: “It would mean the world. It means we can go and compete and do the job at the highest level against stables spending millions of pounds with a horse that cost €40,000.”

Jamie Snowden is confident Ga Law can support his “career-best” run in the Paddy Power Gold Cup with another strong showing on Saturday.

The eight-year-old was four and a half lengths behind Il Ridoto in second despite not being at his fluent best, which gives the Folly House handler reason for optimism of his charge securing a sixth win over fences.

Ga Law on his way to winning at Cheltenham in January
Ga Law on his way to winning at Cheltenham in January (Nigel French/PA)

“Ga Law is in great form. He ran a career-best in the Paddy Power, but the handicapper nudged him up a pound, which makes life a little bit trickier for him,” Snowden said.

“We had him in the Peterborough Chase, but obviously it rained so we didn’t declare for that. Touch wood, if it stays dry, this looks the right opportunity for him.

“He’s kind of betwixt and between, as he’s betwixt Grade Twos and these premier handicaps at the moment.

“It was obviously a very creditable run in the Paddy Power and if he can run to that level of form again, he shouldn’t be too far away.”

Madara was fourth in the Paddy Power on his stable debut and Dan Skelton feels switching from the Old course to the New one will aid his charge, who scored here for Sophie Leech last December.

Ladbrokes ambassador Skelton said: “He’s in good form right now – he ran well in the Paddy Power Gold Cup, but I think this track suits him better. He actually won around the new track last year, having got beat around the old track – so that’s only a positive.

Cheltenham Races – The Christmas Meeting – Saturday December 16th
Madara (right) and In Excelsis Deo at Cheltenham last season (Nigel French/PA).

“I know him a bit better now, as well, and how best to position him in the race, so I’ll have a good chat with Harry (Skelton) and try to get those tactics right. But, based on his form, he’s obviously got a chance.” 

In Excelsis Deo won over course and distance on his last completed race in April and gives Harry Fry hope of a first victory in the race.

Despite pulling up at Galway in July and unseating jockey Bryan Carver in the Paddy Power on his previous two starts, the Dorchester-based trainer believes the unfortunate mistake in the latter could work in his favour.

“He’s schooled really well since and this time we’ll be hoping for a clear round of jumping,” Fry told Grosvenor Sport.

“He looks to be facing plenty of familiar faces again and we think he’s got a fantastic chance looking at the final field.

“Who knows, him not completing at the track on his last outing might mean he didn’t have such a hard race as the others reopposing here, and that might just be a little blessing in disguise.”



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Snowden backing You Wear It Well to make Warwick amends

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Cheltenham Festival heroine You Wear It Well bids to open her account over fences at the second attempt in the eventmasters.co.uk Lady Godiva Mares’ Novices’ Chase at Warwick on Thursday.

The 2023 Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle winner was hot favourite to make a successful start over the larger obstacles in a Listed event at Bangor last month, but was reeled in on the run-in by Gordon Elliott’s Irish raider Shecouldbeanything, who has now won four of her six chase starts.

You Wear It Well gets another opportunity to secure Listed honours on Thursday and with 10lb in hand on official ratings, trainer Jamie Snowden is hoping she will prove hard to beat.

“It was a nice first run. She was arguably unlucky not to win and she just got touched off by a more experienced rival,” he said.

“I thought she jumped really well that day, she was bit keen early but she’s come on for the run and is jumping really nicely at home.

“This looks the right race for her and we’re looking forward to it.”

You Wear It Well’s rivals include Dan Skelton’s Cherie d’Am, El Elefante for Lucinda Russell and the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained Smiling Getaway.

Smiling Getaway has won at Warwick over hurdles
Smiling Getaway has won at Warwick over hurdles (David Davies/PA)

The latter won over hurdles at Warwick in January and is out to make it two from two over fences following an October success at Ffos Las.

Willy Twiston-Davies, assistant to his father, said: “I think she’s always a bit overpriced, fences were always going to be her forte.

“She jumped brilliantly at Ffos Las and it looks like it’s going to be perfect conditions at Warwick.

“Strictly on the ratings it looks like she might be up against it, but we think there’s a lot of improvement to come from her over fences.

“The main thing is hopefully we can get some more black type for her.”



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Huntingdon and Cheltenham in Ga Law equation

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Jamie Snowden is pondering his options with Ga Law following his fine second in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham.

The eight-year-old won the Prestbury Park feature off a mark of 142 in 2022 but was some 13lb higher in the ratings this year as he chased home Paul Nicholls’ Il Ridoto.

Nudged up a further 1lb for that brave performance, Snowden now has to decide between a Cheltenham return for the December equivalent of the Paddy Power Gold Cup or a step up to graded company, with Huntingdon’s Trustatrader Peterborough Chase on December 8 also in the equation.

“It was a terrific run at Cheltenham but unfortunately the handicapper has nudged him up another 1lb,” said Snowden.

Ga Law (left) chased home Il Ridoto (centre) at Cheltenham
Ga Law (left) chased home Il Ridoto (centre) at Cheltenham (Nigel French/PA)

“He is entered back at Cheltenham in the December Gold Cup and we will have to see if we go there, but he might also have an entry in the Peterborough Chase and a lot will depend on the ground. He does like nicer ground.

“He’s come out of Cheltenham well, it’s just the handicapper has made life trickier for him.

“They got rid of the Many Clouds Chase at Aintree, so the only two graded options available to him in December are the Peterborough or the King George at Kempton during Christmas time, so it makes life a little trickier for us.”

Snowden is also keen to see You Wear It Well bank some more fences experience during December after being pleased with her performance on chasing debut in a Bangor Listed event.

You Wear It Well has been sent chasing this season
You Wear It Well has been sent chasing this season (Mike Egerton/PA)

The Cheltenham Festival-winning mare was thwarted on the run-in after an excellent round of jumping, but the Lambourn handler reports she has returned from that reappearance well and is hopeful there is more to come over the larger obstacles.

“She’s good and if you run that race 10 times, I think we would probably have won it nine times,” continued Snowden.

“It was unfortunate and it just didn’t work for us on the day, but she showed a great aptitude to jumping fences I thought.

“There’s a beginners’ chase at Haydock (Betfred ‘Classic Bookmaker’ Beginners’ Chase, December 21) just before Christmas and a race at Exeter (Southwest Rail Solutions Mares’ Novices’ Chase, December 19) which look the obvious options for her next start.”



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Colonel Harry team chasing poignant Coral Gold Cup triumph

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There are sure to be some emotional scenes in the Newbury winner’s enclosure if Colonel Harry can provide his trainer, jockey and owners with back-to-back wins in the Coral Gold Cup on Saturday.

Connections were thrilled 12 months ago after Datsalrightgino landed the prestigious handicap, but joy turned to despair less than two months later as Jamie Snowden’s stable star was fatally injured when falling in the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham.

In Colonel Harry, Snowden and owners The GD Partnership have unearthed another high-class prospect who won the Grade Two Towton Novices’ Chase at Wetherby last season and is expected to improve on his seasonal reappearance when second to Marble Sands in Carlisle’s Colin Parker Memorial four weeks ago.

“He’s in great order at home, I’ve been very happy with him since Carlisle and his training has all gone as planned,” said Snowden.

“He schooled very well last week and did some nice work on Tuesday and we’re hopefully all set for Saturday.

“We’ve campaigned him with this race very much the target and he comes here with a very similar profile to Datsalrightgino – his whole career has basically mirrored Datsalrightgino to this point. We’re rather hoping the step up in trip can eke out a bit more improvement off his mark.

“Last year was a magical day and the Coral Gold Cup has been etched in my DNA since I was a young child really. It’s a wonderful race to be associated with and it was fantastic to win it last year.”

Gavin Sheehan was on board Datsalrightgino last year and the leading rider believes Colonel Harry will head to the Berkshire circuit with similarly strong claims.

Datsalrightgino and jockey Gavin Sheehan winning last year's Coral Gold Cup
Datsalrightgino and jockey Gavin Sheehan winning last year’s Coral Gold Cup (Steven Paston/PA)

“He’s going in there with a similar profile to Datsalrightgino, he’s just a very straightforward horse,” said the jockey. “I think he’ll handle the step up in trip fine – I think he’s crying out for it, to be honest.

“I schooled him last week and he felt great, he definitely feels like he has stepped forward from Carlisle and he was a bit unlucky not to win that day, he jumped out to his left a bit.

“The Coral Gold Cup is not an easy race to win and everyone is going to line up to make the running. It’s just about trying to get a bit of luck and get jumping in a nice rhythm. Hopefully they go a nice gallop that you want and then it’s just riding the race accordingly.

“Has he got the ability to win? Yes. You just need things to go right on the day as well. It was one of my best days racing winning the race last year and I’m really looking forward to it.”

Willy Twiston-Davies has high hopes for Broadway Boy, who won a couple of big prizes over fences at Cheltenham last season and made a pleasing start to the current campaign when third behind the reopposing Senior Chief at Prestbury Park in October.

“He definitely took a healthy blow at Cheltenham, but off a rating of 148, he’s won a Grade Three handicap off 146 already, and you’d like to hope he could be a graded horse in a handicap hopefully,” said Twiston-Davies, assistant to his father Nigel.

“We’ll be disappointed if he doesn’t go very well. If it’s soft ground, that will be right up our street, as he’s won on heavy and he’s also won on good, but he’s definitely better on a soft surface.”

Ben Pauling is represented by Henry’s Friend, who has won three of his five novice starts over fences and blew away a few cobwebs when finishing last of four over hurdles at this track three weeks ago.

Henry’s Friend at Ascot
Henry’s Friend at Ascot (Steven Paston/PA)

“It’s very much looking like it has all fallen into place very nicely indeed,” said the trainer.

“He’s in good order and the ground looks like it will be in his favour, it looks spot-on for him.

“His prep run at Newbury was perfect and he went back there and did a nice piece of work on their gallops morning (last week). He’s come through it all very well, seems in good nick at home and we’re excited to see how he gets on.”

There are three Irish-trained contenders, with Henry de Bromhead’s Senior Chief joined by the Willie Mullins-trained Horantzau d’Airy and Grandero Bello from Eddie and Patrick Harty’s yard, while French hopes are carried by General En Chef, who brings high-class Auteuil form to the table for the training partnership of Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm.

George said: “He’s a Grade One performer, I think he has run in four French Gold Cups and was third in last year’s renewal, and I think he is well handicapped.

Noel George is looking forward to saddling French challenger General En Chef
Noel George is looking forward to saddling French challenger General En Chef (John Walton/PA)

“His owner Andy Peake is from Manchester and we were talking about running in the Betfair Chase at Haydock last weekend, but I thought to myself if we’re good enough to win a Betfair Chase off 148, he’ll be well handicapped for a Coral Gold Cup.

“Of course, the translation between France and England is an unknown, but I think Newbury with its two long straights, there will be no hiding place, and I think it will really suit him.

“He’s a horse who we don’t work too much in a morning and he really improves with his racing. The last day, he probably got there a bit too soon (when third) and Compiegne is a track that doesn’t really suit him.

“It turns a lot and you can’t be too far away off the pace and he’s a horse who likes dropping and coming late, so with that in mind, I do think Newbury will suit.”

Paul Nicholls relies on Kandoo Kid, who has good course form and has had a wind operation since finishing third in the Topham at Aintree, while Dan Skelton sends out two strong fancies in Midnight River and Galia Des Liteaux and Venetia Williams seeks another big Saturday winner with Victtorino.



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Colonel Harry heads 16 chasing Newbury Gold

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Ante-post favourite Colonel Harry is among 16 confirmations for Saturday’s Coral Gold Cup at Newbury.

The seven-year-old will be bidding to provide trainer Jamie Snowden and owners the GD Partnership with back-to-back victories in the prestigious handicap, having struck gold 12 months ago with Datsalrightgino, who was fatally injured on his next outing at Cheltenham.

Colonel Harry certainly brings strong credentials to the table, having won at Grade Two level and run well in Grade One company as a novice last season, while a comeback second in the Colin Parker Memorial Chase at Carlisle will have blown away any cobwebs.

The Venetia Williams-trained Victtorino, Dan Skelton’s Midnight River and Broadway Boy from Nigel Twiston-Davies’ yard are other leading contenders for the home team, while Irish hopes could be carried by Henry de Bromhead’s Cheltenham winner Senior Chief, Willie Mullins’ Horantzau d’Airy and Grandero Bello, who is set to represent the father and son team of Eddie and Patrick Harty.

The latter was last seen winning over fences at Galway in late October and is being readied for a trip across the Irish Sea.

“We were very pleased with the run in Galway. We thought he’d run well, but he hadn’t run since March and we thought he might need it. He won well, which opened up the Coral Gold Cup in Newbury for him,” said Eddie Harty.

“He got plenty of a weight rise from the handicapper but it puts him on a nice racing weight (currently 11st 5lb).

“The owners, Josie Reed and Robert Caddick, are from the area, so it makes sense to bring him over to them for a change. It’s a big race, a big prize and it’s worth a shot.

“He’s come out of the race in Galway bouncing, so fingers crossed he stays like that for the week.”

With Bravemansgame, Royale Pagaille and Grey Dawning all taken out as expected after contesting the Betfair Chase at Haydock, and Chianti Classico also withdrawn, the weights are now headed by Gary and Josh Moore’s Welsh Grand National hero Nassalam on 12st.

Other hopefuls include Henry’s Friend (Ben Pauling), Kandoo Kid (Paul Nicholls) and a potential French raider in General En Chef (Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm).



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Snowden ‘hoping lightning can strike twice’ in Coral Gold Cup

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Jamie Snowden has high hopes of landing back-to-back Coral Gold Cups, this year with Colonel Harry.

Having claimed the prestigious prize with Datsalrightgino last year, this time around Colonel Harry carries his hopes, as well as the same blue and purple silks of the GD Partnership.

A smart novice hurdler, he went novice chasing last season and finished second in a Grade One at Sandown before winning the Grade Two Towton at Wetherby.

On his return he finished second in the Colin Parker at Carlisle to Marble Sands, and Snowden, speaking at the Coral Gallops Morning at Newbury, sees similarities in the way they have ended up in the race.

“They are quite different horses, Colonel Harry and Datsalrightgino, but they have followed very similar paths through their careers,” he said.

“They were both very good novice hurdlers, placed in Grade Ones and started off in the same novice chase at Chepstow. Gavin (Sheehan) thinks he is sure to stay, obviously without trying it you don’t know but it is the approach we took with Datsalrightgino, hoping we would have a bit of mileage left in our handicap mark by going up in trip. It obviously worked last year, and we are hoping lightning can strike twice.

“He did a lot of winning over two miles early on in his career. He was quite a free going individual, but actually the older he has got, the more relaxed he’s got, the more settled he has become, and this race has been on the agenda for a while.”

“He goes left-handed, he’s better left-handed. We had a prep run up at Carlisle and he jumped out to his left, he’s always gone slightly left when he’s gone on a right-handed track so he will certainly suit a left-handed track.”

Datsalrightgino and jockey Gavin Sheehan win the Coral Gold Cup last year
Datsalrightgino and jockey Gavin Sheehan win the Coral Gold Cup last year (Steven Paston/PA)

As for his Carlisle comeback, he said: “He’s bounced out of his run at Carlisle, I didn’t want to bring him to the Coral Gold Cup Gallops Morning as he’s a different horse to Datsalrightgino who was quite a stuffy, big, burly individual.

“Colonel Harry is quite tall, angular, an athletic kind of horse who didn’t need to come here. We got the prep run into him and now the rain has come we can get him on the grass in Lambourn. He loves soft ground, so the softer the better. We were hoping the rain would come, so as long as it is good to soft or softer, that should suit him down to the ground.”



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Ga Law back in the hunt for Paddy Power Gold Cup honours

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Jamie Snowden’s Ga Law will bid to regain his title in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham on Saturday.

The eight-year-old won the big race in 2022 and was a Prestbury Park victor again last term when taking a handicap in January over half a furlong further.

Although he was then pulled up in the Ryanair Chase at the Festival, he finished his season on a good note when runner-up in the Grade Two Oaksey Chase and started his campaign well this time by taking the same place at Chepstow in October.

Ga Law has more to contend with weight-wise than when he took the event as a six-year-old, but after a pleasing return to action, he is out to regain the prize, with Gavin Sheehan now in the plate.

“He won the Paddy Power off 140 a couple of years ago and won a decent handicap on Trials day off a mark of 150, so there are some nice memories, but he is off 155 now, so he has to step forward,” said Snowden.

Ga Law after winning the race in 202
Ga Law and Jonathan Burke after winning the race in 2022 (David Davies/PA)

“He’s only an eight-year-old and he does appear like he is improving at home. He had a nice prep run at Chepstow when he was only 85-90 per cent fit and ran a belter, so he’s arriving in top form.

“This has been the plan and Chepstow should have put him spot on.”

A key rival is the Paul Nicholls-trained Ginny’s Destiny, who had a brilliant run of things last season when winning three successive chases at Cheltenham before finishing second in both the Turners Novices’ Chase and the Manifesto Novices’ Chase.

He makes his seasonal debut after plans for his opening run were scuppered, but his trainer is hoping he has been given adequate preparation at home ahead of the contest.

“He was new to us last season and never stopped improving, winning three times and ending up with a mark of 155,” Nicholls told his Betfair blog.

“The plan has always been to target the Paddy Power and my only slight concern is that we couldn’t give him a prep run at Newton Abbot because the meeting was abandoned.

Ginny’s Destiny winning at Cheltenham last term
Ginny’s Destiny winning at Cheltenham last term (David Davies/PA)

“While he did need his first run last season, I was learning about him then and I’d say he is a lot straighter this time. He’s enjoyed an away day, I’ve done as much as I possibly could do with him at home and he is a lot sharper and better now.”

Dan Skelton’s Protektorat is another who will be seen for the first time this term in the race, as he gets his campaign under way in handicap company.

The nine-year-old was the winner of last year’s Ryanair and carries top-weight under Harry Skelton.

“Protektorat is good, I’ve been very happy with his build-up,” said Skelton.

“With a two-and-a-half-mile horse, when you are trying to look for races, this is an obvious place, even though it’s a handicap. I’m happy to go in a handicap even though he will have lots of weight – there’s nothing else around for him.

“He looks great and has some smart track form and yes, he has a lot of weight, but we will go and give it our best shot.”

Protektorat after crossing the line in the Ryanair Chase
Protektorat after crossing the line in the Ryanair Chase (David Davies/PA)

Harry Fry is represented by In Excelsis Deo, a six-year-old owned by JP McManus who will be ridden by Bryan Carver.

He won the Silver Trophy Handicap Chase at the track last season and was last seen in the Galway Plate, when his jumping was his undoing and he was pulled up.

“He has to come back and get started and see how he jumps,” said Frank Berry, racing manager to McManus.

“His jumping didn’t stand up in the Galway Plate, so hopefully he’ll get his jumping together and run a nice race.

“He’s won and run well at Cheltenham before, so fingers crossed.”

Elsewhere is Nicholls’ second contender Il Ridoto, who was third last year, with Harry Derham’s Imagine also well-fancied as he makes his first start for the stable after switching from Gordon Elliott’s yard.



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