‘Superstar’ Daily Star racehorse set to go for Grand National glory after beautiful win

Our seven-year-old gelding beat odds-on favourite Potters Charm in the Colin Parker Memorial Intermediate Chase at Carlisle to send shockwaves through the sport of kings

Daily Star racehorse Wendigo is go-go-go for two Grand Nationals – after a stunning against all odds triumph over one of Britain’s best thoroughbreds.

Our seven-year-old gelding beat odds-on favourite Potters Charm in the Colin Parker Memorial Intermediate Chase at Carlisle to send shockwaves through the sport of kings.

Potters Charm had won nine of 14 races – including two at Cheltenham – before succumbing to our superstar. Bookmakers immediately installed Wendigo as joint favourite for the £250,000 Coral Gold Cup at Newbury on November 28.

It could be the start of an astonishing run of races – culminating with the Welsh and English Grand Nationals. Paul Binfield, of bookmaker Paddy Power, said: “The Daily Star has its very own superstar.”

Trainer Jamie Snowden said the horse had bounced back from his ‘summer holiday’ even ‘stronger’ than last year and he ‘couldn’t be happier’ with his form.

He plans to enter Wendigo in the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow on December 26. Then – if he performs as expected and qualifies for one of the coveted starter spots – he will take part in the Grand National at Aintree in April.

Up to 600m people across 140 countries will tune in to watch the famous steeplechase boasting £1m in prize money. Wendigo would be one of 33 thoroughbreds tasked with stopping wonder horse I Am Maximus going for an historic third victory in four years – which would beat legend Red Rum’s three in five.

Jamie, 47, who won a best-in-the-business award last year after schooling 86 winners to net more than £1m in prize money, said he was ‘super excited’ at Wendigo’s prospects.

“I have just seen him on the gallops,” he said.

“He looks absolutely a million dollars. I couldn’t be happier with him.

“He has done really well through the summer. He’s probably a little bit stronger even from last year. He’s really, really developed. And he needs to because he is stepping into proper open handicap company this year.

“You’d like to think he is extremely unexposed with so much potential to come as well. I am super excited about the season ahead.”

We bought a hoof of Wendigo via The Racing Club syndicate minutes before he raced in front of the Queen on Ladies Day at Cheltenham in March.

It is designed to allow folk who would not normally be able to afford a thoroughbred to compete in the sport of kings. In his first race for us, Wendigo – who has already notched up six victories – stumbled at the last fence while a promising fourth and unseated jockey Gavin Sheehan.

Watching Queen Camilla was left ‘open-mouthed’ by the thrilling battle, according to observers. A month later he starred on Ladies Day at Aintree, finishing sixth in the William Hill Mildmay Novices’ Chase after a miraculous escape when two horses fell in front of him.

After spending the summer with his hooves up munching grass, the horse – who won twice last year – is ready to really make his mark on the racing world, according to Jamie.

After his Carlisle victory, he will run in the £250,000 Coral Gold Cup – a race won previously by legends Denman and Arkle. By then Jamie hopes should be ready for his twin National tilt.

He said Wendigo’s perfect race would be ‘three miles plus’ on ‘slightly softer ground’ on a left-handed course – such as Aintree where the winner will pocket £500,000.

“Ultimately in the Spring we’d like to hope we can wend our way into the big Grand National come April,” the trainer said.

“But we need the rain. When it falls hopefully he will be there. I’m excited.”