HARRY TO RAISE SPIRITS
JAMIE SNOWDEN believes in Colonel Harry’s ability to lift his yard’s spirits in Sandown’s Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase.
The talented chestnut goes for the Grade One contest, a week on from their devastating loss of stable star Datsalrightgino.
Snowden’s Coral Gold Cup hero, a regular runner at top tracks, could not be saved after he suffered an injury in Saturday’s Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham.
Its sad outcome was a stark contrast to the scene 35 minutes earlier, when Lambourn teammate Ga Law rediscovered his best in a valuable Paddy
Power-sponsored handicap. Colonel Harry represents Datsalrightgino’s owners, Hew and Jane Glyn Davies, at Esher’s circuit this weekend.
“It was a sucker punch for everyone at my stable to lose him,” said the two-time Cheltenham Festivalwinning handler.
“The highs and lows of the sport are extreme. It was a huge team effort to get Ga Law back and we were then left gutted by what happened.
“We do this job for the love of horses and hope Colonel Harry can show what a tough, honest individual he is this weekend.”
Runner-up to reopposing Le Patron in the two-mile Henry VIII Novices’ Chase, Snowden’s fourtime winner went one place better in Wetherby’s Towton Novices’ Chase over 2m31/2f. Snowden (inset) expects the very similar trip of his horse’s next assignment, at a circuit he enjoys, to give him a right chance against favourite Hermes Allen, going the other direction in distance.
“Our horse was on the back foot after a mistake in the Henry VIII,” Snowden added. “The 2m 4f should suit, he loves the track and is in great form.”