Based at the Lambourn yard of Folly House, the 65-horse string of Jamie Snowden may lack the numbers of the biggest names in the game, but the yard heads into the new season on an upward trajectory. A tally of 47 winners in 2023/24 represented the second-best tally in his 16-year training career, whilst £737,177 in total prize money was a new high for the yard.
Surpassing that total is a legitimate target for 2024/25, and with over £200,000 already in the bank, they are well on their way. We suspect a breakthrough Grade 1 success may also feature high on the trainer’s wish list, following six successes in Grade 2 company since 2020.
Here, we outline the stars most likely to put Snowden's name up in lights and highlight the Folly House members of our horse tracker for the 2024/25 season.
Stable Stars
Colonel Harry
Long held in high regard by his handler, this Shirocco gelding achieved a breakthrough success when claiming the Grade 2 Towton Novices’ Chase at Wetherby last season. He wasn’t quite up to it in Grade 1 company at Cheltenham and Aintree but ran a solid second in a Listed event at Carlisle on his seasonal return. Expected to come on for the run, the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury looks like an obvious big race target.
Ga Law
Another runner just below Grade 1 level, Ga Law rarely runs a bad race over fences. A Grade 2 Novice winner in 2020, he has since landed a pair of valuable handicaps at Cheltenham. A mark of 155 won't make life easy, but it would be no surprise to see him pop up in a Premier Handicap or Grade 2 contest over 2m4f.
You Wear It Well
This daughter of Midnight Legend handed the yard one of its biggest days when claiming the 2023 edition of the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. 2023/24 began well with a Listed success at Wetherby, but she failed to build on that in four subsequent outings - bar a runners-up effort in a Grade 2 at Doncaster. Unsuitably heavy ground provides a reasonable excuse for her other three defeats, and she switches codes to tackle fences this season.
Five to Follow
The above trio perhaps represent Snowden's best chance of adding to his graded race haul. However, there are no shortage of intriguing contenders amongst the other 62 inmates at Folly House. Hopefully, the following five will do their bit to add to the prize money total over the season ahead.
- Fresh Perspective – Sired by Derby winner New Approach, this four-year-old landed his Point-to-Point for Will Biddick in May before relocating to Folly House in October. Making his debut in a Uttoxeter Bumper in November, he created a favourable impression when sauntering to a 2½l success. It’s tough to know the strength of that form at this stage, but he couldn’t have done it any easier and falls into the could be anything category.
- Golden Maverick – Successful four times on the flat when based with Ian Williams, Golden Maverick made an encouraging start to life over hurdles last term - finishing in the frame in all five outings. At his best on soft ground – preferably with a decent pace to aim at – he looks like the sort to improve beyond his current rating of 113.
- La Marquise – Picking up two Bumper wins last season, La Marquise rounded off her campaign with a fine fourth in the Grade 2 Mare’s Bumper at Aintree. That effort offered promise ahead of her novice hurdle season, and she backed that up when winning first time out at Ludlow. The winning margin was only 3/4l that day, but she did remarkably well to come out on top, having been hampered at the third last.
- Passing Well – A dual winner over hurdles, Passing Well ended his career over timber with a rating of 127. He looked well on his way to at least matching that rating in his debut season over fences before being afflicted by injury in his final two outings. Now over those issues, he returned with a solid second at Sandown and looks potentially well handicapped off a mark of 123.
- Wendigo – Point-to-Point and Bumper winner who looks like one of the more interesting members of the Novice Hurdle team. Second, when in need of the run at Hexham on hurdles debut, he made no mistake next time out at Ludlow and maybe a bit better than an opening mark of 125.
Paul Harrison
Falling in love with racing at a young age, Paul’s passion for sports and betting took him to Salford University, where he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Business Economics with Gambling Studies. Having spent ten years in the employment of a leading bookmaker, Paul opted to go it alone and pursue his dream job as a freelance writer.
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