Hollygrove Cha Cha dances to Warwick success

Jamie Snowden’s decision to go back over the smaller obstacles with Hollygrove Cha Cha paid dividends when she made all the running to win the Get The Best Odds With Oddschecker Warwick Mares’ Hurdle.

Winner of one of her three races over fences, Snowden spotted an opportunity to get some more black type for his mare and she only faced three rivals.

Well backed near the off, she went off the 5-4 favourite eventually and Gavin Sheehan quickly sent her into an early lead.

Going a good pace in the testing conditions, her main market rival Jubilee Alpha did close in on the bend but Sheehan had saved plenty and she bounded clear close to home to win by four lengths.

The race has provided two Cheltenham Festival winners in recent years with Paul Webber’s Indefatigable going on to win the Martin Pipe in 2020 while Nicky Henderson’s Marie’s Rock was successful in the Mares’ Hurdle in 2022.

“That was great performance, it was a lovely ride from Gavin and just what the horse deserves,” said Snowden.

“We’ve been campaigning her over fences and the plan was really to go to Exeter on Sunday, but that was always likely to be called off and we thought this was an entry that was worth exploiting.

“Thankfully it paid off and she ran a cracking race. She stays very well and handles deep ground.

“I think we can look to swap and change between hurdles and fences, running in Listed and Graded races over both. I don’t think she minds or it matters which she jumps.”