Jamie Snowden thrilled after starting off with a bang in National Hunt season

FOLLY House trainer Jamie Snowden has made a fantastic start to the new National Hunt season.

Some Day Soon ran a creditable third at Uttoxeter on Saturday before No Anxiety won on the same card, with Gavin Sheehan in the saddle for both.

Then, on Tuesday, Bucko’s Boy handed Snowden his second winner in a maiden hurdle at Fakenham under Page Fuller.

After an interrupted jumps season last year, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Folly House handler was thrilled to get off to a quick start.

“One was our second runner on the first day and we also had another winner on Tuesday and that made it two winners from three runners.

“Some Day Soon, off a career-high mark of 138, was carrying top-weight in a competitive Class 2 and he was also coming back from an injury.

“It was a fair performance to finish third and now he should improve off the back of that run as well.

“No Anxiety is a very exposed individual who, has had three qualifying runs over hurdles, showed a bit of promise and stepped up in trip over fences on better ground and he got his head in front.

“You’d like to hope that there is a lot more to come from him as well.

“Having had Bucko’s Boy win over hurdles at Fakenham, it gives us a good start because May is usually decent ground and it’s nice to get the horses out on the track.”

With racing being halted during this time last year, the opportunity to start the campaign at the usual time is one that Snowden wants to take advantage of.

“Last season there was no racing through April or May and it was really fast ground during the early start of summer, so we were slow out from the blocks last year.

“We had a good season, a couple of Grade 2 winners, but it is always nice to get a few on the board through May.”

Coronavirus restrictions will potentially be further eased later this month and the trainer hopes it can allow more owners to get involved with their horses at courses around the country.

“I think the next lifting of restrictions is May 17 and you’d like to think that more owners might be able to mingle with participants and getting into the paddock again.

“It would be lovely to get them back involved because they have been very patient, they have accepted the situation as it has been and it would be nice to get them back in again.”

Things got even better for Snowden as he secured his third winner of the campaign after Quiet Penny won a Mares' Handicap Chase at Fontwell on Wednesday, under jockey Sheehan.

On the same card, Vive De Charnie finished fourth in a flat race and Alrightjack came second in a handicap hurdle.