Last season ended six weeks early and to many it was one to forget, but not for Jamie Snowden, whose rise up the training ranks saw him post a best ever tally of 46 wins.
His strike-rate of 22 per cent was impressive but the statistic that stands out is that those successes were attained from a pool of just 50 horses.
„We had a fantastic season,“ says Snowden. „It was one of those years you hope for and it worked out incredibly. Everything clicked into place and it seemed to work.„
Among his haul was an impressive success in the Grand Sefton with Hogan’s Height, and the Cheltenham Festival-winning trainer has big plans for him this season, saying: „He was due to go for the National in April but it wasn’t to be. He goes back to Aintree again this autumn, but everything is being geared to the Grand National next spring.„
Despite missing many weeks due to Covid, Snowden’s team have already got nine winners on the board and he is aiming to top last year’s personal best.
„We always try to better the previous season and although it won’t be easy we have some lovely horses thanks to a great bunch of owners and we have more horses this time around, with one or two higher-profile owners joining us. It will be incredibly tough in the circumstances but they are going well and I think we have a great chance.„
Snowden singled out Thebannerkingrebel, Ga Law and Stoney Mountain as horses he believes could be worth following during the coming months, as well as a host of exciting young horses, some of whom have yet to make their debuts.
Horses:
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | K | L | M | N | O | P | S | T |
Alrightjack
6 b g Stowaway – Brogella
He started last season off well with a good fourth in the Grade 3 Silver Trophy at Chepstow, but then lost his way. We have since had his wind operated on twice and he seems to be very well. He could be on a fair mark for handicap chases this year (125) over 2m4f, although he hung left when down the field at Uttoxeter last week on his reappearance.
Anythingforlove
5 b m Black Sam Bellamy – La Perrotine
She has a proper National Hunt pedigree being a half-sister to the great Sizing John and, like her illustrious sibling, she has plenty of ability. She made her debut in a Uttoxeter bumper on New Year’s Eve and won nicely. She then had her second run at Catterick two months later when easily defying her penalty to maintain her unbeaten record. Both wins came with plenty of give underfoot which she seems to relish. She has been schooling nicely at home ahead of a novice hurdling campaign, where the Grade 2 mares’ final at Newbury in the spring would be a possible target. She is almost ready to run and should be out early next month.
Bucko’s Boy
5 b g Midnight Legend – Buxom
He gave us plenty of cause for optimism in his two bumper runs last season finishing second and fourth. Unfortunately, he picked up an injury after the latter run, which forced us to give him time off, but he really thrived over the summer and came back better than ever at Hexham earlier this month when coming home by seven lengths with something to spare. He is the first foal out of the mare and is typical of his sire Midnight Legend’s stock in that he is tough and hardy. He is very much on the upgrade and I feel we should be able to pick up another bumper with him despite the penalty he now has to shoulder. He will have one more bumper outing and then the plan will be to go novice hurdling.
Chapmanshype
6 b g Aizavoski – Call Her Something
He has been a revelation with five wins in his last six starts. Last term he won four races, which concluded with a hat-trick, by which time he had shot up from 110 to 132. This season he has shown he is better than ever, winning back-to-back handicaps at Fontwell and Kelso, the latter off 142. We did have him entered for the Silver Trophy at Chepstow but the ground was too soft. He is now up to 146 and I think he has earned a step up in class with the Grade 2 Hurdle at Wetherby his next target. He started winning over 2m but his pedigree suggests he will get 3m and I think that extra distance could eke out even more improvement. He has a wonderful attitude and I am sure there is more to come.
College Oak
5 ch g Norse Dancer – Katmai
He won a bumper at Sedgefield last season followed by two good runs in novice hurdle company, but we felt after the second of those he was still a young horse and would benefit from some time off. We brought him back after his summer holidays and he quickly got back on the scoresheet winning first time out at Uttoxeter over 2m4f. He had his first run in handicap company last time at Newton Abbot, where he learned plenty on a track that did not suit as he found it a bit sharp. He needs a more galloping track and I feel he is on a mark (113) he should be very competitive off. Being out of a sister to Best Mate he is bred to jump a fence and has plenty of stamina.
Coole Well
7 b g Gold Well – Bobs Lass
He only has one win to his name but has finished second another seven times. He was unfortunate at Cartmel in the summer when he slipped up but his last run at Hexham was good. He deserves to get his head in front again soon and will do. He picked up a cut on his most recent run but will be ready to go again in about four weeks. We may have to go north to win small handicaps with him but he is more than capable.
Datsalrightgino
4 b g It’s Gino – Delightful Sofie
A nice youngster who made his racecourse debut at Market Rasen late last month when running a most encouraging third in a bumper. He goes very well at home and I think he should be a decent bumper horse. He will be out again next month with races at either Wincanton or Sandown in his sights.
Donnie Azoff
4 ch g Dylan Thomas – Bonny River
He made his debut when second in a Southwell bumper in the summer and in his two subsequent runs he was also placed. He has a lovely pedigree being a half-brother to the useful Secret Stream. He will be going novice hurdling this winter and when he gets some decent cut underfoot he will be winning. I think he has a future as a staying hurdler and further down the road over fences.
Early Morning Rain
6 gr m Martaline – Rosewater
She enjoyed a productive time last year, winning novice hurdles at Fontwell and Lingfield. She has the best attitude you could ask for from a mare and I think she can do well this season in mares’ novice chases. Ultimately I would hope she could do well enough to get some black type for her breeding page. Her wins have been at or around 2m but I feel ultimately 2m4f will be her optimum.
Exod’ela
6 b g Saddler Maker – Queen’ela
I really like this fellow who was a good winner of his only point-to-point start. He has not run a bad race in his six starts for us with one win and the other five being placed efforts. He was impressive on his final outing of last season when successful at Ludlow. He started back earlier this month when a pleasing third behind Glinger Flame up at Hexham, where he came to challenge in the straight but took a blow and would have needed that run. He has definitely come on for that and I think his current mark is reasonable as there is a lot more improvement to come. He will be even better when he jumps a fence.
Fact Of The Matter
10 b g Brian Boru – Womanofthemountain
He is a six-time winner but his last win was in December 2018. He absolutely loves the cross country races and his most recent win was in the Glenfarclas Handicap at Cheltenham. He has since been back there a couple of times and run well. Last time out we sent him over to France for a cross country race at Vichy where he ran another decent race. He will be heading to Cheltenham again next month for another crack at the unique fences at Prestbury Park.
Feralkat
5 ch m Schiaparelli – Alikat
She is quite an interesting mare who won her point-to-point at Moig South when her jumping was very good. She needs soft ground and must have underfoot conditions to suit and will not run unless she does. I like her and she could have a future.
Ga Law
4 b g Sinndar – Law
Obviously the season started later than usual this summer but despite that we have made a good start, and one of the most exciting of those to have run so far is Ga Law. This half-brother to Val De Law, who we also trained, made a winning debut on his only start at Argentan in France when trained by Gabriel Leenders. He took a while to acclimatise and his first run, at Stratford in March, was below what we had hoped. He did well for a summer break and we sent him straight over fences, where he as an easy winner at Fontwell with the smart Getaway Trump (good winner since) behind him. He was allocated a mark of 128 for his handicap debut and he could not have been more impressive at Exeter, where he jumped like an old hand and came home well clear of his six rivals – all older and more experienced chasers. That earned him a 10lb hike in the handicap, which in fairness was only to be expected. Two races spring to mind for him next, and they are the Rising Stars at Wincanton or the Grade 2 at the Cheltenham Open meeting next month. His wins have been over 2m2f and 2m3f, but if the ground turns soft I would happily drop him back to 2m, or if it remains decent then 2m4f will be his trip. I think he can continue to improve as he is still only a four-year-old and has a lot of scope.
Hogan’s Height
9 b g Indian River – Electre Du Berlais
This very smart chaser has been a real star during his career and put up a career-best effort last season when winning the Grand Sefton Handicap at Aintree by 16 lengths. He was an impressive winner but it was the way he handled those big old fences at Liverpool that took the eye. He has a rating of 146 which would have got him in the Grand National, his target, but unfortunately the race was cancelled. We will head back to Aintree for either the Grand Sefton or Becher Chase this autumn. Ultimately the Grand National will be the target again next spring and after his next run over the course we will possibly give him a couple of runs over hurdles before the big one. He has summered well and looks in very good order.
Kiltealy Briggs
6 b g Fame And Glory – Baby Briggs
He has a superb pedigree being out of a sister to Grand National winner Ballabriggs. He won twice over hurdles last season, at Hexham and Kelso before he was pulled up in the Albert Bartlett at the festival. He ran on his nerves there and came back with a bit of colic, so put a line through that run. He had looked very progressive prior to that and is one I have a lot of faith in. He has a mark of 136 and will be going novice chasing this term. I will see if I can get it to 135 so he can go novice handicap chasing. He looks the part of a chaser and has schooled very well.
Legends Ryde
5 ch m Midnight Legend – Ryde Back
She won a bumper last season at Carlisle and subsequently finished second in Listed company at Cheltenham. After that she ran three times over hurdles, winning at Ffos Las over 2m4f on heavy ground in March. We were then looking at the Grade 2 Mares’ Final at Newbury but that never happened. After a good summer break she returned at Chepstow in the Persian War Hurdle, where she didn’t appreciate the ground, which was nowhere near fast enough. She remains a novice until December under the current rules and I think we could drop her back to a novice hurdle with a penalty next and also look to stepping her up in trip. She will remain over hurdles this season but will make a lovely chaser next term.
Monbeg Theatre
11 b g King’s Theatre – Amberina
This old boy has been a bit of a star and has really been around the block. I was delighted when he notched up his seventh career win last week at Hereford when easily beating the odds-on favourite Darlac. He jumped beautifully around there and it will have done his confidence the world of good. For a horse approaching his 12th birthday it was only his sixth run over fences and he will remain in novice company this year. I thought his mark of 135 over fences looked very competitive and so it proved. We will see what the handicapper does next before making plans.
No Anxiety
4 ch g Presenting – Joanne One
He has had just one run in a bumper last spring where he finished mid-division, but he learned plenty. He is very much one for the future and looks a potentially smart staying chaser further down the line.
Oneofthesenights
9 b m Milan – Alfreeze
This mare has done superbly well in her four starts for us but has incredibly low mileage. After winning on her point-to-point debut for Harry Fry back in May 2019, she was out of action for 911 days before we brought her back to win last year first time out at Ludlow. She ran three times in all last term, winning all of them. Again she had a near 400-day break before we brought her back at Auteuil last month when second in a valuable conditions event where she won almost £8,000. Her next run will be at Wincanton on November 7 in a £22,000 Class 2 handicap hurdle. She will appreciate a step up in trip but I am still undecided whether to stick to hurdles or go chasing, but she does go very well and is going to be a useful mare.
Pisgah Pike
5 br g Famous Name – Music On D Waters
He joined us from Una Corcoran at the end of last year and after a couple of runs we felt he would benefit from wind surgery, which he had in the spring. He was a different horse when he returned and won a Hexham maiden hurdle by 13 lengths last month. That earned him a 12lb hike on his mark but he should still have won a Listed handicap hurdle at Market Rasen three weeks later when he was caught on the line. It was a little unfortunate as Gavin [Sheehan] was off injured and he really knew the horse and in the race he was in front for a long way, which was not ideal. It was an unfortunate defeat but he got back to winning ways at Plumpton this week, where he easily defied a 7lb penalty. I am sure there is a decent handicap in him and if he progresses as we hope then something like the Scottish Champion Hurdle next spring could be a target.
Some Day Soon
7 b g Robin Des Champs – Creative Approach
He enjoyed a grand time last season, racking up a four-timer in the summer in novice hurdle company. This summer he has run twice in handicaps, the first a fine second to Dear Sire (won since) where he won have won but for messing up the last. We sent him to Stratford after that but unfortunately he picked up a niggle which has ruled him out until the spring. His future will be over fences.
Sovereign Duke
5 b h Jukebox Jury – Shadow Queen
He was a winner over a mile on the Flat with Henry Candy before he was bought to join us. As soon as he arrived we had his wind operated on and gave him a bit of a once-over. He would have won on his hurdling debut for us at Newton Abbot in August but for taking a nasty fall at the penultimate flight. He popped around back at the Devon track last month and came home fourth before finishing a tailed-off third at Exeter last time. I hope he could have a prolific future over hurdles.
Stoney Mountain
7 ch g Mountain High – Cherry Pie
He was bought out of Trevor Hemmings’ dispersal sale and looks a lovely addition to the team. He has won six of his 15 starts and is already a Grade 3 winner over hurdles. I have not schooled him over fences yet but he looks the part and he will be novice chasing straight from the off. He is coming on nicely and will be ready to go next month.
Thebannerkingrebel
7 b g Arakan – One Love
He is a lovely individual who has done well over hurdles. Last year he won three times including the Listed Newton Novices’ Hurdle at Haydock. He subsequently ran a close third in the Grade 2 Rossington Main Novices‘ Hurdle at Haydock. He enjoyed a nice break and had a wind operation prior to finishing sixth in the Welsh Champion Hurdle at Ffos Las on Sunday. He should come on for that run and has been schooling really well and working nicely. Further down the road I am looking at the Gerry Feilden Hurdle as a serious target.
Thomas Macdonagh
7 b g Black Sam Bellamy – Taqreem
He enjoyed a good time last season, completing a hat-trick very easily. He is another that had his wind operated on and I am excited about him starting out over fences. It is an old cliché but everything he has achieved over hurdles has been a bonus as he will be better as a chaser. This season he will be novice chasing where he should be effective up to 3m.
Thistle Do Nicely
6 b g Arcadio – April Thistle
We were looking forward to sending him novice chasing last season when he picked up a niggle in the autumn after just one run over fences. He has been off for a while but is back in and training well. Hopefully he will be ready soon after Christmas in order for a spring campaign. I think there should be a nice novice handicap chase to be won with him.
Timoshenko
5 ch g Archipenko – Nezhenka
He did great for Sir Mark Prescott where he reeled off six wins on the bounce. He joined us in the summer and won first time out over hurdles at Uttoxeter. He surprised me there as he is bred to stay much further than the 2m. He has been given a favourable handicap mark of 110 and when we send him over further he should be very competitive and is another with a decent handicap in him.
