Snowden hopeful Conquiere can can make at impact at Cheltenham

Jamie Snowden is confident La Conquiere can make her mark at the Cheltenham Festival after being narrowly beaten at Ascot.

Second in the Grade Two Aintree mares’ bumper last spring, the seven-year-old had created a deep impression when winning over hurdles at both Uttoxeter then in Listed company at Newbury this term.

She lost her unbeaten record over obstacles when going down narrowly against more experienced rivals in the Grade Two Warfield Mares’ Hurdle, but the Lambourn handler was far from despondent.

Snowden said: “It’s always a shame to be beaten when you have a nice horse, but it was only her third run over hurdles and it was either very brave or very silly of the trainer to step her out of novice company against older mares and I thought she acquitted herself well.

“She only went down half a length and gave the winner 2lb and she was probably just outbattled from the back of the last to the line.

“It was a good performance and the handicapper has put her up 5lb so he must have thought it was a career-best.”

Snowden will now head straight to the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Prestbury Park’s spring showpiece with La Conquiere, a race the Folly House handler won with You Wear It Well in 2023.

La Conquiere is a general 16-1 chance for this year’s renewal and Snowden believes this year’s model compares favourably with his heroine of old.

He added: “Interestingly she will head to the Cheltenham Festival now off a mark of 133 and we’ve previously won the race with You Wear It Well off 135.

“You Wear It Well carried a penalty and those penalties are no longer valid in the race, so in effect she goes in with a better chance than You Wear It Well did.

“You Wear It Well was second in the Challow and won the Jane Seymour prior to Cheltenham and I was very conscious this mare didn’t want to be running over two and a half miles, hence the reason we took on our elders at Ascot.

“On figures she’s one of the best mares in Britain and Ireland this season, and while the betting might not suggest it hopefully she goes to Cheltenham with a great chance.”

Meanwhile, Snowden has a trip to Kelso and the Gade Two bet365 Premier Novices’ Hurdle in mind for Kosac d’Oudairies who thrived for a step up in trip at Catterick earlier this week.

“He’s a lovely horse and deserved to go and win at Catterick under a penalty,” added Snowden.

“He went and took on Mydaddypaddy at Haydock and couldn’t live with him over two miles but the step up in trip suited and he’s done it well.

“His future lies over fences, but in the immediate – and he does like softer ground – he could go to Kelso for the Grade Two over two-miles-two and then we might look at Aintree. He jumps great and we’re looking forward to seeing him over a fence next season.”