Snowden sets out Cheltenham goal for Wendigo

Jamie Snowden is confident Wendigo can shine at the highest level when race conditions are in his favour.

The seven-year-old has made a solid start to his chasing career after only being beaten a head at Worcester in his first attempt at the bigger obstacles and then winning the Grade Two John Francome Novices’ Chase at Newbury.

He was stepped up to Grade One level in the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton and did not disgrace himself in coming home third, just three and three-quarter lengths adrift of the Willie Mullins-trained Kitzbuhel.

Snowden said: “He ran a big race in the Kauto Star but things weren’t in his favour, he’s better left-handed.

“Obviously the track was pretty sharp as we know Kempton is pretty sharp but the ground was pretty good as well, so the sharpness of the track, the better ground and right-handed probably didn’t play to his favour yet he still ran well.

“To only be beaten three lengths, you’d like to hope when things are more in his favour he’d certainly be a Grade One horse.

“He ran into a good one of course and he’ll go to the Brown Advisory.”

Tiptoptim could be set for a trip to Aintree after pleasing connections with a third-placed effort in the Challow Hurdle at Newbury.

The six-year-old was just edged out of second on the line in Berkshire and was only one and a quarter lengths behind Paul Nicholls’ odds-on favourite No Drama This End.

Snowden said: “He ran a blinder in the Challow. He was beaten a head for second and length or so for the winner.

“He ran an absolute belter. It was a really pleasing run.

“He’s a horse that we’ve always thought a lot of and we’ll certainly just mind him a little bit this year because we see him as a proper future staying chaser.

“He might be more of an Aintree horse perhaps (rather than Cheltenham), following in the footsteps of (last year’ Sefton Novices’ Hurdle winner) Julius Des Pictons.”