Laurens Bay has Snowden pondering his options

Jamie Snowden hailed Laurens Bay’s “perfect start” to chasing and he could make an immediate step up in class next time out.

The six-year-old landed the valuable EBF Final at Sandown on his last appearance of the previous campaign and picked up where he left off at Uttoxeter earlier this month.

It may have only been a two-horse race, but Laurens Bay jumped effectively on his first start over fences and ran out a seven-length winner to the delight of his Lambourn-based trainer.

The Mucking Brilliant Paddy Power Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham in November could be next on his agenda but he could go down the handicap route, depending on his mark after his impressive victory.

“He’s come out of it well, obviously a perfect start to his chasing career which is lovely to see,” Snowden said.

“He jumped really well. You can’t really tell from a two-horse race, but he did it impressively and he’s an exciting horse going forward.

“We might think about that Listed novice at Cheltenham at the November Paddy Paddy meeting, or there is a Class Two at Exeter before that or the Graduation Chase at Haydock. There are several options.

“It all depends on where he ends up with his handicap mark, whether he ends up in a graded novice or whether he goes down the handicap route. There’s obviously plenty of water to pass under the bridge beforehand.”

Ga Law has been a great servant to Snowden and the nine-year-old will step up to three miles for the forthcoming season.

He will be in action on November 1, but the Folly House handler has yet to decide whether to travel to Wetherby for the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase or across the Irish Sea for the Grade One BetVictor Champion Chase at Down Royal.

“He’s got an entry there (Down Royal) and an entry in the Charlie Hall, which is obviously on the same day, so we’ll decide which way we will go, whether it’s Wetherby or Down Royal, and then we might go to the Hennessey (Coral Gold Cup) afterwards,” Snowden said.

“In recent years, we were second in the Paddy Power (Gold Cup) last year and we won the Paddy Power a couple of years before that, so we were really campaigning him over two and a half (miles).

“I think now is the time to go up in trip. He’s now nine years old and we will start at three miles either at Wetherby or Down Royal, and then think about the Hennessy perhaps.”