Tuesday 13 February 2018 11:56, UK
Jamie Snowden is aiming for more glory in the Castel Royal Artillery Gold Cup at Sandown on Friday when he saddles Midnight Monty.
Having won the race four times as an amateur jockey, Snowden, a former member of the armed forces, is now a successful trainer in his own right.
Midnight Monty is owned by The Cherry Pickers, an eight-strong syndicate whose members are formerly of the King's Royal Hussars regiment.
"It's a very special race. I wouldn't be here training today if it wasn't for these military races," said Snowden.
"My time in the army was brilliant, but I was lucky enough to be let off to ride in and train for these races. These races put me in the spotlight to give me a launchpad to where we are today. I'm indebted to these races for that."
Speaking of the owners, he added: "We set up a partnership whereby the King's Royal Hussars regiment are the owners. There's a syndicate of eight who own the horse who are all former members. Myself and Harry (Wallace, jockey) are former members and so it would be very special to win in these circumstances.
"There are very few partnerships which are set up with these races in mind. Nowadays a lot of people lease horses for the race, but this partnership went out and bought this horse a year in advance with this as the end goal. It's very exciting.
"He finished second in a great prep run at Market Rasen last week. He needed the run and we left a little bit to work on. That was over two-mile-five and the military races are over an extended three miles, so it was a fantastic prep run. He stayed on all the way to the line and only got beaten a length."
