One thing that really struck me about the day was just how friendly and welcoming Jamie and the yard as a whole were in general. It was as if we were long time friends of the yard and had been going for years whereas the reality was that it was a first visit for the vast majority of us! I'd love to have the money to get involved in horse racing ownership (unfortunately I don't think it would be the best use of my PGCE grant!) however if you are considering it then do check out www.jamiesnowdenracing.co.uk. Jamie was kind enough to run through the horses under his care and let us know about his thoughts for the horses and the year ahead. Let me share a few of those thoughts with you here. Hopefully it can be a great year ahead for Jamie with plenty of winners for the yard, perhaps even beating their previous best tally of 20 winners for the season!
Present View
Let's start with Present View, the yard's Cheltenham Festival winner and clearly adored by everyone at Folly House. Nicknamed Elvis due to his love of attention Present View was on the gallops in the lot we saw and looked fabulous, so powerful and strong. However he won't be going hurdling this year as that was the cause of his injury issues last year, he clouted the 2nd last hurdle at Cheltenham on seasonal debut which led to a nasty cut and time off (still finished a neck 2nd) and perhaps just doesn't respect the smaller obstacles. He blew up in the Paddy Power (still finished 3rd) but the lay off after the cut was probably the cause of his slight lack of race fitness. However because of his curtailed season he is only up 2 lbs this season rather than a stone or so and could be very well handicapped. Present View will be kept to fences, targeting the Showcase meeting and then the Paddy Power and I certainly will be backing him in these races given how well handicapped this horse could be. Stable Star and a worthy one.
Jean Fleming
A two time hurdle winner as well as a point to point victor who has never finished out of the first three in her life. She gallops all day long and really needs the emphasis on stamina to be seen at her best. She will go to a Ludlow handicap hurdle and then a Wincanton handicap where hopefully her stamina can be brought into play. Tries all day long.
Midnight Silver
An interesting horse, 2 time bumper winner last season including in the mud at Ffos Las. However the yard thought she was making noises associated with her breathing so she has had a wind operation. She must be pretty talented to win twice if her breathing was causing her issues so could be a horse to follow this season with those issues hopefully resolved. Could be smart.
Val De Law
A horse Jamie was dead keen on for the year ahead. Because he is still a novice he can go down the novice chase route this year with a year's experience under his belt. How he didn't win last year is a bit of a mystery; he fell at the last when tanking alongside Southfield Theatre at Exeter (looks very smart form now) before idling when in the lead at Leicester. He acquitted himself with huge credit in a Grade 1 at Aintree over 2 miles and 4 where he didn't quite stay. However the bonus about that is that he remains a novice of huge potential for the season ahead and will be kept to the 2 mile trip, going down the novice chase route before Graded races later in the season, all being well. Very much one to watch.
Be On Time
A potentially interesting horse for early on in the season; he can still run in Novice Chases, despite finishing 2nd in a case at Auteuil and also will be able to claim a hefty weight allowance as a 4 year old. In France they start them earlier so he will be able to race against horses with the same or even less experience over fences and receive lumps of weight from them! Jamie will look to get Be On Time out early to take advantage of this and I'd be keen to follow him in early this year.
Ardkilly Witness
This horse, rated 139, absolutely adores it round Sandown and the owner would love to win the Grand Military Chase they hold there later in the season. However to do this you need to be rated 130 or less so Jamie plans to run him in big races this season. If he runs well and his weight goes up then the Grand National can be targeted, if not then it'll be the Military Cup route.
Denboy
An unraced 5 year old for extremely patient owners. He is a bay gelding out of a sister to the great Denman and is an absolute tank himself. Jamie has had him for two years now and will send him hurdling this year. He has taken to the hurdles well at home and will be interesting, hopefully he can reward the owners patience (same colours as Dodging Bullets).
Rhythm Star
Disappointed on her final start last season but that may have been the result of a long hard season. Is a winning hurdler and goes novice chasing this year; she could be well handicapped. Will mix and match between chasing and hurdling however as the programme for mare novice chasers isn't the best.
Our Three Sons
Has run twice and been second twice. Came in late from the grass this summer and patience will be required with him however he stays well, will take in 2 bumpers this year and then be one for hurdles next season. Jamie can afford to take time with him as he is only 4 years old.
Miss Tiger Lily
Three time flat winner who sustained an injury and was off for a year. The owners have decided to send her jumping and she will run this coming Tuesday for the first time for Jamie.
Monbeg Theatre
A two time hurdle winner, in addition to a bumper victory, but the yard found out last year he doesn't stay three miles. Will drop back to two and a half miles and run in novice hurdle races where he could go well.
Fact of the Matter
Jamie likes this one, jumps brilliantly and will go for novice hurdles this year
Ethelred
Unseated the rider last time out, that was no fault of anyone, and prior to that had only been beaten a nose in a chase. He has been handicapped over hurdles but could be a better chaser and one potentially to note in handicap chases this season.
Our Reward
A smashing horse who has won a P2P and received a P2P rating of 91; to put that into perspective Present View got a P2P rating of 94 so this one could be very good. He is schooling well and is a very strong, nice type who is just starting work now.
Souriyan
Bought from the Aga Kahn Souriyan is a winning Novice Hurdler and was just touched off in the mud at Ffos Las the time after his win. He then ran in the Fred Winter, where he finished around 8 lengths off the winner. Will now go Novice Chasing.
Bob's Legend
Has been rated as high as 110, however is now down to a mark of 92 which is what attracted Jamie to him. We found out on his stable debut he needs a step up in trip from 2 miles so he goes over 2 miles 2 furlongs on Sunday and the yard think they can have a good bit of fun with him off his current mark.
Mollyanna
A sister to smart horse Oscar Time so will certainly stay a trip! Will go chasing with her.
Major Milbourne
Loves Newbury, the 2 mile 2 furlong trip suits and soft ground also ideal. He has been paced in bumpers and hurdles but his hurdle rating is a touch high. He has also won a handicap chase and may be of more interest in that sphere.
Ventura Castle
Still just a three year old and the yard will take him novice hurdling this season. On his first run for the yard he was unfairly carried out and then the next time it was found he may have a breathing issue. He has now had his wind done and will have one more run in novice company before going handicapping.
That's about it from my notes on the Jamie Snowden runners, hope you find them useful and we can get a few winners for the season ahead! One final time I must stress just how appreciative I was of the day as a whole and the time Jamie gave up to take us up to the gallops and then give us an extensive tour of his stable. To give up that much time on a busy day just shows how friendly and welcoming the yard is and I just hope I get the chance to go back before too long!
Lets keep our fingers crossed for a good season for the Snowden yard!
Thanks for reading!
Alex Bellew
