Thebannerkingrebel Helping To Break Records.
6 min read
Thebannerkingrebel won at Haydock on Saturday and the win was made even more special, as it meant that BetVictor Brand Ambassador, Jamie Snowden broke his record for the number of winners in a season. We are only in November, so with 5 or so months to still come, it really cements how it’s all coming together at Folly House. We caught up with the training maestro once again to go over the last week, as well as hearing his thought on what’s to come.
Last week
I’d like to start off with Thebannerkingrebel who won very nicely at Haydock on Saturday.
He was 2nd in the Grade 2 Aintree bumper before winning two novice hurdles in the spring. He arrived at Haydock on the back of falling at the last at Wetherby, where he looked to be holding all the aces when trying to give away lumps of lead to a decent fiat horse, so it was pleasing to see him put that right to take this listed contest.
We now look at stepping up to grade one company and have a couple of options to consider – it looks likely that it will be either the Rossington Main at Haydock or we could travel to Leopardstown on the 27th of December. Looking forward, all roads lead to the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at The Festival, so exciting times lie ahead.
?️“He’s got a serious engine – he’s a bit of a freak."
Thebannerkingrebel receives high praise from @jamiesnowden after winning the Listed contest at @haydockraces today ?
Our report also includes reaction from @gavsheehan92 >>>https://t.co/pqCXWPKK7p pic.twitter.com/fhpTfcU7vL
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) November 23, 2019
Kiltealy Briggs was most impressive when winning by 36 lengths at Hexham. He’s a very nice young horse. He was 2nd in a PTP and followed that up with finishing 2nd in a bumper on debut in September. He was runner-up once again on hurdles debut at Wincanton, so we managed to find a race where he was able to get his head in front. We may step him up in grade – possibly in the 3m Novice Hurdle at Cheltenham in December.
College Oak was 2nd at Ffos Las in a race where the winner has bolted up on ground he clearly relished. College Oak is nice horse who can win a Novice Hurdle before progressing further. He jumped well on the day, and despite being a bit keen early, he finished the race well and was a clear 2nd.
I was happy with the run of Mustang Alpha when he finished a good 3rd at Huntingdon. He’s a nice horse and despite having a couple of errors, he jumped well and will definitely learn from the experience. I think he will come on more mentally than physically from this and bearing in mind he is only 4 years old, he should go on to win his Novice Hurdle before going chasing in time.
Footloose didn’t handle the heavy ground at Uttoxeter, you could tell quite early on it wasn’t for him, so we’ll put a line through that and move on.
It was pleasing to see Barrowlands win at Sedgefield on Tuesday afternoon. He was given an excellent front-running from Gavin Sheehan and it was nice to see him take the prize after finishing 3rd at the beginning of the month. Hopefully he can progress from that and go well again.
This week’s entries
Early Morning Rain did extremely well to reverse the form with Mystic Dreamer when she won at Fontwell a few weeks back. She jumped well that day and stayed on nicely. I have my eye on the listed race at Taunton at the end of December, however, there are quite a few potential options for her before then, with the listed race at Newbury on Saturday a potential option.
Redbridge Gold has a few options just now but could end up going for the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle on Saturday at Doncaster. She won a bumper there last year before finishing 4th at Ludlow on hurdling debut. She suffered a nasty cut that day, so she’s now recovered from that and ready to go here.
Last seen over hurdles at Wincanton, Kalahari Queen is entered at Carlisle in a listed Mares’ Chase, with the alternative being a handicap at Plumpton in Monday 2nd if that doesn’t materialise. She’s working well at home at home and if she can rediscover her form when she won a Novice Chase at Wetherby in February, she could go close.
Thanks again to Jamie for his insight, and don’t forget we’ll have more from Rachael Blackmore on Friday so make sure to check out the BetVictor Blog for that.
