Snowden banking on stamina bringing out more in Wendigo

Jamie Snowden expects the step up to three miles to bring out the best in Wendigo when he shoots for Grade One honours in the Ladbrokes Kauto Star Novices’ Chase.

The six-year-old won twice over hurdles last season, as well as finishing second to The New Lion in the Challow at Newbury and fifth in the Albert Bartlett at the Cheltenham Festival.

After being touched off by subsequent Cheltenham scorer Wade Out on his chasing debut at Uttoxeter, Wendigo got back on the winning trail in a two-and-a-half-mile Grade Two at Newbury last month and now returns to the highest level on the King George undercard at Kempton on Boxing Day.

Snowden said: “He’s all set, obviously it looks a good renewal but we couldn’t be happier with him – he’s come out of Newbury bucking and squealing and kicking.

“The step up in trip should suit, we would have preferred a little bit of soft ground ideally, but he’s in good form.

“He’ll stay well – he obviously ran very well in the Albert Bartlett over three miles when he was a little bit unlucky in running.

“On ratings we’re third best, but we’re only 1lb off Salver and we’ve got very good form coming into it.”

High-class hurdler Salver proved he possesses the requisite stamina for three miles when coming through to win the Grade Two Esher Novices’ Chase at Sandown three weeks ago.

Like Snowden, joint-trainer Gary Moore admits he would have preferred to see more rain in Sunbury ahead of his latest assignment.

“He’s in good shape, you’d like the ground a bit softer than what they’ve got but that’s the way it is and he’ll have to prove himself on good ground as well as soft ground,” said the Sussex-based handler.

“He will need to be a bit sharper than he was early on at Sandown but he’s not a slow horse. Hopefully we might get some rain.”

The likely favourite is Kitzbuhel, who will bid to provide Willie Mullins with a first victory in this race after making a winning start to his career over fences at Punchestown last month.

Blueking d’Oroux (Paul Nicholls), Crest Of Fortune (Anthony Honeyball) and Thomas Mor (Philip Hobbs and Johnson White) complete the line-up.