King George VI Chase: Boxing Day, 1440 GMT TV: Channel Four Commentary: BBC Radio 5 Live Report/results: BBC Sport website He has the name for it, he definitely has the work ethic for it, he has the right sort of people behind him and he's got the big-race romance nurtured in south-west Wales. Snoopy Loopy is becoming box office. In these straitened times, as racing struggles to keep its head above water in many parts of the media, here is that most craved-after of racing entities, one onto which the public can easily latch. OK, the 10-year-old, rated a 20-1 outsider for the �220,000 Stan James King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day, is not yet a Red Rum or a Desert Orchid, but he's not many furlongs behind. And a big performance in the King George would be another step in the right direction.  Cannot play media. Sorry, this media is not available in your territory. Snoopy Loopy won the Betfair Chase at Haydock as Kauto Star stumbled Trained by Peter Bowen, not far from where farmer Sirrell Griffiths prepared Wales' 100-1 Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Norton's Coin, 'Snoopy' has enjoyed an extraordinary 13 months. After being skilfully nursed through a catalogue of problems at the Bowen stable, the horse has run a value-for-money 16 times since returning to action in November 2007. Only three times out of the first three, (once when brought down), the chestnut coloured gelding has travelled far and wide from Pembrokeshire in his quest for success. A particularly lucrative run of wins and placings this autumn - when beating King George rivals including treble-seeking favourite Kauto Star and Voy Por Ustedes - ensures that Snoopy Loopy goes into Christmas firmly at the head of jump racing's Order of Merit. Bowen is relishing the chance to take on the bigger names once again. "They aren't going to frighten us away," the in-form trainer told me. "I think that he's a ridiculous price considering what he's been doing, and who he's been beating.  | 606: DEBATE |
"He is 10 and has had a busy year, but because of his problems he doesn't actually have that many (racing) miles on the clock, and I think that he's got a good chance." I agree, and think that Snoopy Loopy is an outstanding each-way King George bet. The most intriguing thing about this horse's Kempton challenge is that he generally jumps beautifully, and any chinks in that department amongst the others, notably Kauto Star, could be ruthlessly exposed. The man on top, iron man jockey Seamus Durack, completes the colourful Snoopy team. At the age of 33 the Irishman is reaching the veteran stage, but is experiencing a well-deserved revival in a career which has seen his battered body amaze medics with its grittiness. Such have been the injuries that walking has been regularly difficult and painful until recent internet searches dug up books of pelvic exercises used by ballroom dancers. "I am a new man, no longer walking like a robot," he said with a broad grin. "I am moving nearly as well as those professionals on Strictly, and a lot better than John Sergeant." And unlike Sergeant, Durack, Snoopy Loopy and the Bowens are going nowhere, except Kempton on Boxing Day.
| 
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
Bookmark with:
What are these?