Colonel Harry aiming to continue fairytale return at the weekend

Jamie Snowden is hoping to realise a long-held plan with Colonel Harry, as the eight-year-old targets more success in the Support The Hunt Family Fund December Gold Cup at Cheltenham this weekend.

A Grade Two winner and Grade One-placed as a novice, he made his long-awaited return in the Grand Sefton over the National fences at Aintree in November, after last being seen suffering what proved to be a nasty fall at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day.

Complications in his recovery, which included being in hospital with a serious infection, meant he was off the track for 10 months, but he bounced back in winning by two lengths on Merseyside.

“He’s in good order, schooled really well this morning and I’m very happy with him,” said Lambourn-based Snowden.

“He does like softer ground, he actually caught us a little bit by surprise in the Grand Sefton because the ground was on the better side that day, and it was his first run back for a long time.

“He had a terrible infection, a flesh-eating disease in his back leg, so he was in hospital for the best part of two and half weeks earlier in the year.

“So he did amazingly well to back and win first time out, especially over the National fences. Thankfully he’s come out of that race well and he’s in good order.

“No real plans (beyond the weekend). It depends on how this goes as to where we go. This has been the long-term plan really.”

Snowden has another arrow in the two-and-a-half mile Premier Handicap in the form of Ga Law.

He came third of five runners in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby in October, but will drop back in trip in a bid to improve on last year’s ninth-placed finish, with rising talent Isabelle Ryder aboard the nine-year-old grey.

“Obviously he ran well in the Charlie Hall, he’s just caught in the grip of the handicapper,” Snowden said.

“Isabelle is obviously a very talented rider, she’s had a wonderful season to date and she’s only got two wins left on her 7lb claim, so hopefully we can utilise that.

“I certainly think he is a horse that gets three miles well now, so I’d be saying we will go back up to three miles at some point.

“He’ll be a veteran in the new year and it’s likely those veteran races will suit him well.”