Jamie Snowden interview: Top trainer gives the rundown on his stable stars

Top trainer Jamie Snowden continues to go from strength to strength, and our man Ed Quigley caught up with the Lambourn maestro to discuss the plans of his stable stars for the winter and beyond. 

Colonel Harry

"This lad loves the mud, and we will pot-hunt with him when conditions are right. He spent three weeks at the vets after his fall at Cheltenham on New Year's Day, and I didn't rush him back, especially once the ground dried up in the spring. Off 145 I think he could be on a good mark, and he was travelling well until he fell at Cheltenham.

"We will look at the Old Roan to get him going and then look at the Paddy Power Gold Cup or December Gold Cup at Cheltenham, depending on the ground. The new course is probably more his bag, so the December option would suit better, but if all it did was rain in November, then we would be daft not to keep an eye on the Paddy Power. It will all come down to the ground with him."

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Fresh Perspective 

"He's a lovely big baby. He won his bumper well at Uttoxeter and then we threw him in the deep end at Ascot for the listed bumper before Christmas, and the whole occasion just frazzled his brain. He was on edge before he had even entered the paddock, and that day told us that he needs plenty of time mentality more than anything.

"I was delighted with his win at Fontwell the other day, at the first time of asking over hurdles. I won't be in a rush to do anything grand with him too soon, as he is still quite raw. We will look for a novice hurdle under a penalty next time out and take it from there. I have no doubt he will be a smashing chaser next season, so that is where his future lies really."

Ga Law

"Ga Law has been a legend for the stable and produced some magic moments over the years, including when winning the Paddy Power Gold Cup a few years back. I am convinced he needs three miles now, and he is going to be tricky to place with his rating of 155, so we will have a look at the Charlie Hall Chase or a trip to Down Royal.

"He wants good ground so he will go in one of those, all depending on what the underfoot conditions are doing, and then he will head to Newbury for the Coral Gold Cup. I need to properly discuss it with his owners, but in regards to the Spring, we will have a think about the Grand National."

Git Maker

"He loves the mud and has won at Chepstow, so the obvious move is to have a crack at the Welsh National. He came back lame from the Cheltenham Festival, but he is in rude health now, and like a few of us trainers, we are just waiting for some rain.

"He ran a stormer to chase home the subsequent Gold Cup winner (Inothewayourthinkin) last year in the Kim Muir, and he is only 1lb higher now. He jumps and stays and loves soft ground, so I think he can run a big race at Chepstow. He will have a spin over hurdles as a prep run next month, which should leave him spot-on for that."

Hollygrove Cha Cha

"She did us proud when winning the Jane Seymour at Sandown, and then the combination of spring ground and the drop back to 2m was just all wrong for her at the Cheltenham Festival. It's easy in hindsight, but we won't be exposing her to that scenario again.

"She will be novice chasing this autumn over 2m4f+ and you won't see her unless there is plenty of cut in the ground. I think she can be quite smart over fences when she gets her ground."

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Idy Wood

"Even though he won twice over fences, chasing was a bit of an effort for him as he isn't the scopiest, so we switched him back to hurdles. I was delighted with his run at Chepstow in the Silver Trophy, and we will plot our way through the season.

"He has some smart form at Kempton, so we may look at the Lanzarote Hurdle for him in the New Year, providing the ground isn't too soft."

La Conquiere

"I am very excited about her this season, and she will be out over hurdles soon. She hadn't been with us all that long and then ran a belter to finish runner-up in the Mares' Bumper at Aintree. She's got a lovely demeanour and I am hoping she can be very smart over hurdles."

Laurens Bay

"He had a good season last year, and capped it off in style by winning the EBF Final at Sandown. I am looking forward to seeing him go chasing this season, and this lad is one who likes ground on the slower side. I think he wants stepping up to 3m, and I think we will see an even better chaser".

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Milldam

"Off 131 this season is going to be harder for him, but I'd like to think there is more improvement to come. It's all about getting the ideal races for him, as he needs quite specific circumstances to be at his best. He can't have it soft enough, and loves 2m on a flat track, so the races choose themselves.

"He won a nice pot when the mud was flying at Haydock last season just before Christmas, and that's the type of race we will look for with him once the ground turns."

Passing Well

"Passing Well ran well in all the regional Nationals last season, and a similar campaign awaits. He was third in The Eider and filled the same position at Uttoxeter in the Midlands National, so he will probably end up in those two races again.

"If you keep knocking on the door, at some point it will open, and I am sure he will have his day. The Welsh National would be perfect for him, but off 125 it would be touch and go if he got in. So there are lots of options over marathon trips."

Super Survivor

"We ran him in the 2023 Welsh National and it absolutely bottomed him; it took me a year to get him back to himself. He enjoyed life back over hurdles last season and did well, winning twice, but paid the price with the Handicapper.

"I wouldn't rule out going chasing again with him as he is still unexposed in that sphere and we will have a look at some staying handicap chases." 

Wendigo

"He had a great campaign over hurdles last year and was unlucky not to have got closer in the Albert Bartlett after nearly being brought down two out. We are just waiting for rain. It's frustrating as he is ready to go, but I didn't want to run him on lively ground at Chepstow, so we have got to be patient.

"He doesn't need a bog, but he is a heavy-topped National Hunt horse, so I would like some cut in the ground for him. We will probably start off over 2m4f and then step him up in the New Year where hopefully he can make up into a Brown Advisory candidate. The John Francombe Novice Chase at Newbury (November 28) would look an ideal race for him this side of Christmas, and hopefully he can have a spin before that."

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