Snowden and Sir Chips combine again at Festival as You Wear It Well wins

Nine years after teaming up to win at the Festival with Present View, Lambourn trainer Jamie Snowden and owner Sir Chips Keswick were back in the Cheltenham winners enclosure thanks to You Wear It Well.

The 16/1 outsider saw off a field of 21 to win the Grade 2 Jack de Bromhead Mares’ Novices Hurdle, finishing two-and-three-quarter lengths ahead of Magical Zoe while the pre-race favourite, the Nicky Henderson-trained Luccia, was back in fourth.

With the majority of punters backing Luccia, the bookies were perhaps too harsh on Snowden's mare, who won well at Sandown in February and was second in the Challow Hurdle at Newbury but was stepping back in trip and carrying a penalty.

However, the son of Midnight Legend ran like a favourite, making all and extending her lead to three lengths before the last and cruising to the line after clearing the final hurdle with ease.

“It’s Cheltenham isn’t it? It’s wonderful. We had a winner here very early in our career in these colours, and you forget how hard it is to win here,” Snowden said after landing his second win at the Festival, almost a decade after his first.

“It’s the pinnacle of pinnacles.

“She’s a very smart mare and to do that in a Grade 2 with a penalty as well is wonderful.

"She's a proper jumper, a lovely mare and I'm just delighted for Chips. He and his wife Sarah have been such a big part of it.

"Given (Sheehan) has given her a wonderful ride, she's a proper stayer at that trip and the rain has helped her.

"I'm so delighted that Chips was here. He wasn't actually here when Present View won because Arsenal were playing Bayern Munich, so it was great for him to be here."

Meanwhile, Sir Chips Keswick, who was chairman of Arsenal nine years ago and so missed Present View's triumph in favour of a 4-1 defeat to German giants Bayern Munich, hailed You Wear It Well as the best horse he's ever owned.

""I was away last time so it is great to be here 10 years later," he said.

"I think she is very special, I have a few horses but she is the nicest.

"I was thinking come on you beauty."

Snowden has said he expects You Wear It Well to follow the same course as Love Envoi, who won the same race last year and then went on to run twice at Sandown before returning to Cheltenham to finish runner-up to Honeysuckle in the Grade 1 Mares Hurdle.