Wendigo sails through Festival preparation with Ayr victory

Jamie Snowden’s Wendigo came through his Cheltenham Festival preparations at Ayr with flying colours, with his trainer describing the race as “perfect”.

Last seen finishing strongly into third in the Grade One Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton over Christmas, he was taking a big drop in class for the Join Coral ‘Bet £10 Get £50’ ‘Chasing Excellence’ Novices’ Chase.

Only two were declared to take him on, Donald McCain’s Maximilian, a Grade Two winner over hurdles in January 2023, and Nick Alexander’s Donny Boy.

Maximilian set out in front under Brian Hughes and while Donny Boy briefly led, Gavin Sheehan did not waste time in sending Wendigo on.

Jumping with aplomb, the seven-year-old was soon a long way clear and the 1-5 favourite came home 22 lengths to the good.

Wendigo is a general 10-1 chance for the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham.

“You always hope it is straightforward when they are so short in the betting and thankfully it was,” said Snowden.

“It’s a good sign when after the last he picked up immediately, suggesting there was plenty left, it was a perfect race really.

“It’s a long gap between Kempton and Cheltenham so it was nice to get a run into him.

“We went right-handed at Christmas, but we always had a sneaky suspicion he was better left-handed and he did jump out to his left at Kempton. All the graded races between now and then like the Scilly Isles, the Reynoldstown and Pendil are right-handed so we had to go up to Ayr.

“He jumped beautifully today and I think he’s the best of the British in the Brown Advisory, but he’s not had four runs over fences which qualifies him for the handicaps. Our main aim is the Brown Advisory, but we do have options.

“We can watch the Irish this weekend now.”