Snowden hoping Hollygrove Cha Cha can dance to Sandown success

Jamie Snowden is confident Hollygrove Cha Cha can make her presence felt in the Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide Jane Seymour Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Sandown on Thursday.

A dual bumper winner last season, the five-year-old also won her first two starts over hurdles before meeting with defeat for the first time when picking up the silver medal behind Jubilee Alpha in a Listed event at Taunton in late December.

Hollygrove Cha Cha steps up in trip and class for this two-and-a-half-mile Grade Two and Snowden believes she has plenty in her favour.

“She’s won four of her five starts and the only time she got beaten was in the Listed race over two miles round Taunton on good ground,” said the trainer.

“She picked up a bit of black type there, that will have sharpened her up and she’ll definitely improve for the step up in trip and slightly softer ground.

“She goes there with every chance.”

Nicky Henderson’s Holloway Queen is on a hat-trick after impressing at Lingfield and Haydock, while Willie Mullins – who won this prize a decade ago with Uranna – is this year represented by Mummy Derry, who makes her hurdling debut off the back of finishing second in a Listed bumper at Navan in November.

The small but select field is completed by Neil Mulholland’s Blue Las and the Fergal O’Brien-trained That’ll Do Moss, both of whom won decisively last time out.

Mulholland said: “Blue Las is an improving mare, obviously it’s a big step up in class but we’ve got to take the step up sometime.

“She should be fine on the ground and the trip should be fine. I know she got beat over two-and-a-half, but to be fair she galloped all the way to the line and it was first time out (for the season).

“We’re taking a step into the unknown, but it’s not a big field and it will be interesting to see how she goes.”

Of That’ll Do Moss, O’Brien added: “She deserves a crack at it, I think.

“We pitched her high in the Listed bumper at Cheltenham (in November) after a break and she won well at Ayr last time. I think it’s a good chance for her to get a bit of black type.

“Sandown is a funny place and you need to be tough and consistent. She’s a hardy mare and we’re looking forward to getting her out again.”