Rachael Blackmore stole the headlines in the Grand National last year, the most famous steeplechase in the world. She became the first-ever female jockey to win the race. It could be another heroine who comes out on top in 2022 in the form of Snow Leopardess.
No mare has won the Grand National in 71 years. The last to do so was Nickel Coin when she prevailed in the marathon contest at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool in 1951. She was the 13th mare in history to score in the race.
Snow Leopardess is the +1400 favorite in betting on horse racing for the 2022 Grand National. It will be her first attempt at the race, but not her opening appearance around the Grand National Course. Charlie Longsdon’s runner won there last December when she landed the Becher Handicap Chase.
Victory At Exeter Proves Mare Is in Good Form
Longsdon’s chaser featured at Exeter in a Listed race for mares on her latest appearance, and it was a victory that was needed to help her qualify for the Grand National. She won that contest by 12 lengths.
The 10-year-old began the season with success coming at Bangor. She prevailed in a 14-runner race at the Welsh racecourse on what was a good start to the campaign.
Snow Leopardess then showcased her Grand National credentials when she won the Becher Chase over the bigger fences at Aintree. Although that race is over the shorter distance of 3m2f, the conditions were testing last December, and her stamina held up well.
Her trainer has indicated she is unlikely to run again now until Aintree for the Grand National. When she prevailed at Exeter on her last outing, it was the first time in her career that she had been able to complete a hat-trick. Given how demanding that was, Longsdon wants to give her a few weeks off prior to the big race in April.
Lenient Handicap Mark for Aintree Feature
Snow Leopardess went into the Grand National weights launch with an official rating of 146. The handicapper has given her a weight allocation of 10st 3lb. She is 57th in the list of runners at the latest declaration stage; however, a number of horses at the top end of the weights are expected to drop out.
Longsdon’s runner needs to move up to the top 40 at the final declaration stage if she is to make the field on the day. If she is 41st or 42nd, she will be one of the two reserves for the race.
The highest-rated horses still in the declarations are Conflated and Galvin. They have been handed a top weight of 11st 10lb. Last year’s winner Minnela Times has been given 11st 4lb, that’s 15lb higher than when he prevailed in 2021.
One horse who won’t run this year is Tiger Roll. The connections of the dual-winner have expressed their dissatisfaction at the weights and have decided not to run their talented chaser.
The 2022 Grand National will take place on April 9 and if Snow Leopardess does justify favoritism, she will cement her place as one of the greatest mares in the history of the sport.
