Thebannerkingrebel out to claim Betfair Hurdle crown while the Duchess Of Cornwalls Pacify set for Huntingdon

THEBANNERKINGREBEL will attempt to crown a golden winter for Jamie Snowden on Saturday.

The high-class seven-year-old is a leading contender for the 155,000 Betfair Hurdle at Newbury.

He is an 8-1 chance with the big-race sponsors, with the market currently headed by tearaway Ascot winner Not So Sleepy at 6s.

Thebannerkingrebel, owned by former Arsenal chairman Sir Chips Keswick, has made giant strides over timber this term.

He hammered a good field at Haydock two starts ago and went down on his sword under a 5lb penalty when a close third at Grade 2 level at the same track last month.

Snowden told Sun Racing: “He is in great order and we are all set for the Betfair Hurdle.

“He was giving away a penalty at Haydock and arguably he was a little unlucky not to win that day, he slightly missed the last and he was squeezed up on the run-in.

“The time of the race was the exact same time as the Champion Hurdle Trial on the same afternoon, and we were carrying 5lb more than the winner of that race.

“On weights and measures he comes out very well. The handicapper has put him up so he goes to Newbury effectively 4lb well in.

“And the horse that won at Haydock, Stolen Silver, carries a penalty so we get a nice pull at the weights with him.”

In recent starts, Thebannerkingrebel has raced from the front under regular ride Gavin Sheehan.

But Lambourn-based Snowden said the horse is tactically versatile and will happily take a lead – which he should get if the free-racing Not So Sleepy runs this weekend.

He continued:“There is often not a great deal of pace in some of these novice races, so we have gone and made the running ourselves.

“A true gallop from start to finish will suit him well, he doesn’t have to be in front. He isn’t one dimensional in terms of tactics.

“He goes on any ground, he’s won on good ground, he’s won on heavy, so it doesn’t matter to much what ground we get on Saturday. He is very good.”

The yard will be hoping a right royal couple of days starts on Thursday with Pacify, who has contributed five wins to Snowden’s career-best tally of 43 this season.

The eight-year-old, who is owned by the Duchess Of Cornwall, will tackle the Sidney Banks Hurdle at Huntingdon on Thursday before a potential Ballymore tilt at Cheltenham next month.

Snowden said: “Pacify is fresh and well and runs in the Sidney Banks on Thursday at Huntingdon.

“He has won five of his six novice hurdles over 2m and he was second giving away a 5lb penalty at Cheltenham in November.

“His best form on the Flat was over 1m6f which would suggest a slightly longer trip over hurdles will suit him.

“He has to carry a penalty at Huntingdon, but if he stays the trip well and it unlocks a bit more improvement then the Ballymore over 2m5f would be the place to go at the Festival.”