30 January 2024 , 20:00
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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 Festival-winning 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.
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"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 reooposing Le Patron in the two-mile Henry VIII Novices' Chase, Snowden's four-time winner went one place better in Wetherby's Towton Novices' Chase over 2m3½f. Snowden 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."