Jamie Snowden hopes to fulfill a long-held plan with Colonel Harry as the eight-year-old aims for more success in the Support The Hunt Family Fund December Gold Cup in Cheltenham this weekend.
A grade two winner and grade one seeded novice, he made his long-awaited return in the Grand Sefton over the national fences at Aintree in November, having last been seen suffering what turned out to be a nasty fall at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day.
Complications in his recovery, including a hospital stay with a serious infection, kept him off the track for ten months, but he recovered to win by two lengths on Merseyside.
“He is in good condition, had a very good lesson this morning and I am very happy with him,” said Snowden, from Lambourn.
“He does like softer ground, he actually surprised us a bit in the Grand Sefton because the ground was on the better side that day, and it was his first run in a long time.
“He had a terrible infection, a flesh-eating disease in his back leg, so he was in hospital for almost two and a half weeks earlier this year.
“So he did incredibly well to get the first time and win, especially over the national hurdles. Luckily he came out of the race well and is in good condition.”
“No real plans (other than the weekend). It depends on how this goes where we go. This has really been the long-term plan.”
Snowden has another arrow in the two and a half mile Premier Handicap in the form of Ga Law.
He finished third out of five runners in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby in October, but will drop back on the trip in an attempt to improve on last year’s ninth-place finish, with emerging talent Isabelle Ryder aboard the nine-year-old gray.
“Obviously he ran well in the Charlie Hall, he’s just caught in the handicapper’s clutches,” Snowden said.
“Isabelle is obviously a very talented rider, she’s had a great season so far and she’s only got two wins off her 7lb claim, so hopefully we can take advantage of that.
“I definitely think he’s a horse that can go five miles well now, so I’d say we’ll go up to five miles again at some point.
“He will be a veteran in the new year and it is likely that these veteran races will suit him well.”
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