Skip to content

Snow Leopardess could have spin over hurdles before Grand National weights

Snow Leopardess up to a mark of 147 after winning the Becher Handicap Chase at Aintree on Saturday; trainer Charlie Longsdon hoping ground is slow enough at Grand National in April for popular mare to run

Snow Leopardess clears 'The Chair', Aintree's famous National fence
Image: Snow Leopardess won the Becher Chase on Saturday over the National fences at Aintree

Snow Leopardess could take in a run over hurdles to protect her handicap mark before a possible tilt at the Randox Grand National.

The nine-year-old mare showed the famous fences at Aintree held no fears by making most of the running and holding Hill Sixteen by a nose in the Unibet Becher Handicap Chase at the Liverpool course on Saturday.

Snow Leopardess has been raised 7lb for that performance, taking her rating to 147 - which should ensure her place in the world's greatest steeplechase in April.

Summit Juvenile Hurdle on Sky Sports
Summit Juvenile Hurdle on Sky Sports

Watch the Summit Juvenile Hurdle and December Novices' Chase at Doncaster, live on Sky Sports Racing on Saturday, December 11 from 11.50am

Trainer Charlie Longsdon believes the mare would have an each-way chance should she line up for the extended four-and-a-quarter-mile marathon.

"She's in very good form. We'll get to the spring and see what happens. We might end up looking at the Grand National - if it's slower ground we'll definitely be looking at it," said the Chipping Norton handler.

"She's now up to a mark of 147 so hopefully she will go there with a little each-way squeak.

"Mrs Fox-Pitt (owner) is just a bit wary of the numbers (runners in the National). It's the numerical side of it.

Also See:

"We'll see how she is between now and then and go for it. We'll probably look for something from the middle of January. We might even run her over hurdles.

"There's the Grade Two Warfield Hurdle for mares only at Ascot and there's also a 50 grand hurdle race over three miles at the new meeting at Lingfield as well, so we can keep her mark at around 147.

"I don't want her to go down or up - 147 is nicely near the bottom as well. That is why we'll probably give her one run over hurdles before the weights for the National come out."

Around Sky