‘He would beat Artemis II to the Moon’: Barton Snow rockets to Foxhunters’ glory on opening day of Grand National Festival

Barton Snow swept across Merseyside to land the Aintree-Cheltenham double with a storming victory in the Randox Foxhunters’ Chase.

“He’s so fast, he would beat Artemis II to the Moon!” said trainer Joe O’Shea, for whom this was a third Aintree Foxhunters’ win.

“If NASA had phoned me I could have got them to the moon and back in nine days, and it’s taking them 10.”

The nine-year-old, who won last month’s Princess Royal Hunters’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival and who is now unbeaten in his last eight starts in hunter chases and point-to-points, looked well within his comfort zone as he cruised home seven lengths ahead of runner-up Lets Go Champ. Jockey Henry Crow, who has been in the saddle for all three of Barton Snow’s hunter chase triumphs this season, took a peek over each shoulder after in the run-in – his only perceptable move in the saddle – and Barton Snow lengthened comfortably away to win with ease.

“We don’t know how good he is. He does this at home every day,” said O’Shea, who is recovering from a quadruple heart bypass.

“He’s an amazing horse, and again Henry says he’s done it in third gear. We first realised how good he was at Stratford last year, and he doesn’t just do 37 miles an hour for 100yards – he keeps it up. I just wish my other two had been second and third as I had the tricast for half a million quid!”

He added: “If I had a licence, I would have supplemented this horse for this year’s Champion Hurdle, that’s how fast he is.”

The former rag and bone man traces his love of Aintree to sneaking into the racecourse in 1976 to see Rag Trade win the Grand National. His first Foxhunters’ winner came 35 years later with Cousin Pascal, followed by Gracchus De Balme in 2025. While Aintree was focused on Barton Snow, the sun was all his trainer could see – reflected off the big screen.

It’s the horses, he says, and the love of the game that gets him out of bed in the morning.

“It’s the thought of the opposition getting up before me and working their horses overtaking me. Getting to the top was easy; it’s staying there that’s hard,” he told H&H. “That’s what gets me out of bed. And having horses like him, Gracchus De Balme, and an unbelievable novice [Boley Bob] who is by the same stallion, Snow Sky, and who hasn’t been beaten yet.”

The winning jockey added: “I’m the first Crow to be on this roll of honour, but all the praise should go to Joe – I feel very grateful he put me on. It’s all down to him. He gave me my very first ride and my very first winner and without him, I wouldn’t be here today.”

Gold Cup runner-up shines at Aintree

Gold Cup runner-up Jango Baie, trained by Nicky Henderson, bounced out of Cheltenham to win the Grade One Racing Welfare Bowl.

“I think he’s put to bed that stat that they go to the Gold Cup and then don’t come here,” said jockey Nico De Boinville, who himself bounced back after parting company from favourite Lulamba in the William Hill Manifesto Novices’ Chase half-an-hour earlier.

“It’s a funny old game and it certainly keeps you meek and humble. It will certainly put manners on you,” said De Boinville, reflecting on his swing in fortunes in the space of two races. “You just have to look at yourself in the mirror and say, ‘Come on, lad. Chin up, let’s go again.”

‘I’d imagine she’s going to go chasing’

Brighterdaysahead sealed a double on day one for trainer Gordon Elliott and jockey Jack Kennedy in a gripping William Hill Aintree Hurdle, which featured the horses who finished second to fifth in the 2026 Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham last month.

“This is probably her trip and she was awesome. I was nervous but it was kind of easy to watch and Jack was brilliant on her. It’s great for everyone at Gigginstown who have been massive supporters of mine, through thick and thin,” said Elliott.

“She’s a good mare and that’s why she wins over two miles, but I think two and a half is probably her trip. I’d imagine she’s going to go chasing. She was supposed to go this year but she pulled a muscle and that’s why she didn’t.

“She hasn’t won at Cheltenham but she ran a great race there this year.”

The pair also teamed up to win the opener with Mange Tout.

H&H is bringing you news from the 2026 Randox Grand National Festival. Don’t miss the bumper magazine report, in the shops Thursday, 16 April.

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