It’s Snow business at Aintree
AINTREE racecourse has been the scene of many famous celebrations down the years. And racegoers should be braced if the grey Snow Leopardess manages to complete her fairytale career with a victory.
The Becher Chase winner has not exactly followed the tried-and-tested route to Liverpool – but will return to Merseyside as the most fancied British-trained contender.
Her backstory really is out of the realms of make believe, as on her way home from a successful foray to France in 2017, she picked up an injury and rather than recuperate in the normal fashion, Snow Leopardess went to visit the
Derby winner Sir Percy and gave birth to a foal.
Instances of mares returning to racing having given birth are rare in any case, but for them to reach the heights of challenging for Grand National favouritism is simply unheard of.
Snow Leopardess is a fifthgeneration home-bred owned by Marietta Fox-Pitt, mother of leading eventer William Fox-Pitt who is married to ITV Racing presenter Alice Plunkett.
“It’s surreal looking at the National and being connected to a leading fancy, but it’s all down to my mother-in-law,” said Plunkett.
“She’s best friends with Jessie Harrington and is an extraordinary horsewoman, so to now have a horse like Snow Leopardess, that she foaled and produced herself, is pretty amazing.”
Now 10, Snow Leopardess might be seen by some to be slightly past her peak, but as she was off the track for almost 800 days, the National will be only her 20th race.
“Technically she’s only a second-season novice despite being 10. She’s a really big mare,” said Plunkett.
“I dread to think what I’ll be like if she does win. I’ve been doing terrestrial TV for 24 years and I’m horrendously emotional.”