Jury up and running over fences at first attempt

Jamie Snowden was “thrilled” after watching his Albert Bartlett winner Johnny’s Jury make a winning chasing debut at Worcester.

Starting off his new career in the FBC Manby Bowdler “Chasing Excellence” Beginners’ Chase against several other promising types, Johnny’s Jury (4-5 favourite) showed he is going to be at least as effective over the larger obstacles.

Harry Skelton tried to make it a test on Dalston Lad and at one stage looked like he might have slipped the field but Gavin Sheehan had him in his sights on the favourite and after making a daring run up the rail on the run to the final fence, found himself in front.

Johnny’s Jury jinked on landing giving Sheehan a fright but he stayed in the plate to beat Crest Of Fortune by a length.

Snowden told Sky Sports Racing: “I’m thrilled because that was a good race.

“We haven’t worked on grass yet or schooled on grass. That was a tough race, he made a few mistakes on his way round but it was a nice performance.

“He won over two miles over hurdles, we stepped him up after that obviously but I think he’s versatile trip-wise, I’m just thrilled to get that one out of the way.

“There’s the Grade Two at Newbury (John Francome) which Wendigo won last year or the three-miler at Sandown (Esher Novices’ Chase), they will be the two we will think about but Sandown is favourite at the moment.

“I wouldn’t be averse to bringing him back in trip, he’s a good horse but there was a hill at Carlisle and a hill at Cheltenham and Sandown has a hill.”

Sheehan feels the winner is quicker than many give him credit for.

He said:  “You’d like to think (there could be something big for him over fences). He jumped brilliant bar one or two down the back when I just left it to him.

“I’d schooled him enough and he’d been brilliant so I just left it to him and he probably just needed his hand holding a bit down the back and that just put us off.

“I loved the way he came back into it, I thought he was beat on the bend but he had his ears back and head down. He’s got plenty of stamina but I think he’d win over two and a half as well. We’ve got options.”

Snowden and Sheehan had already won the opening CopyBet For Premier League Profit Boosts Novices’ Handicap Chase with Joyau Allen (7-4 favourite), another of the Johnny de la Hey horses to have been moved from Paul Nicholls.