Mick & David Easterby: Racing Syndicates and Racehorse Ownership






Mr Snugfit

Mr Snugfit



SireJukebox
DamSinzinbra
DOB 1977
Sex gelding
Colour bay
Country
Owner
Mr Adrian Greenwood
Breeder
Cheveley Park Stud Ltd
Form [F]
000000
Form [J]
010120/ 0F0/ 00212/ 1121P00200/ 021021141112/ PP024

Mr Snugfit was bought by owner Adrian Greenwood from the sales for £1,200 with a plan to race on the flat. He approached me after the sale with an eye to training the horse.

"He'll take time", I told him. "He's a long term prospect, a jumping horse. You won’t see him at his best until he’s matured. He’s got a lot of growing to do and it'll take time."

I hadn't looked at the colt's breeding, but he had every stamp of a jumper about him. However, when I eventually saw the pedigree I thought I'd been given misinformation as his sire was Jukebox, a sprinter.

We discussed training fees and after the sales I loaded him onto a box and took him to Sheriff Hutton. The horse was given the name 'Mr Snugfit' after the line of trousers that were currently being marketed by his owner, 'Snugfit Slacks'.

Mr Snugfit was a big old fashioned steeplechaser, and won two hurdle races and nine steeplechases. However, he will be best remembered for his being extremely unlucky not to have written his name into Grand National history in 1985. He recorded a hat-trick of wins before the 1985 National with wins at Leicester, Carlisle and Nottingham. In the big race itself he had to carry over a stone more than his allotted weight, running from 'out of the handicap'.

Heavily supported in the betting market, he looked sure to prove the punters right when hitting the front two out. Battling it out with Last Suspect, he looked set to win after Last Suspect made a blunder jumping the third last . However, Last Suspect responded to the coaxing of jockey Hywel Davies caught Mr Snugfit in the final 40 yards, despite flashing his tail he dug deep to win, leaving our Mr Snugfit to settle with the runners up spot.

The following year Mr Snugfit returned to Aintree and was sent off 13-2 favourite. With three fences left Mr Snugfit and most of the 20 runners in front of him he was shaken up by jockey Phil Tuck and passed all but three and finished in fourth place.

Links

Watch the 1985 Grand National here

News

10Sep23
National Racehorse Week: Mr Snugfit




Date Race

19Mar85

Trent Handicap Chase
3m 4f

Nottingham
Jockey: Phil Tuck

Owner: Adrian Greenwood

08Mar85

Kendal Handicap Chase
3m

Carlisle
Jockey: Phil Tuck

Owner: Adrian Greenwood

26Feb85

Long Eaton Handicap Chase
3m 4f

Nottingham
Jockey: Phil Tuck

Owner: Adrian Greenwood

28Jan85

Trial Handicap Chase
3m

Leicester
Jockey: Phil Tuck

Owner: Adrian Greenwood

31Dec84

Whisky Handicap Chase
3m

Carlisle
Jockey: Phil Tuck

Owner: Adrian Greenwood

10Jan84

Breedon Handicap Chase
3m

Leicester
Jockey: G Bradley

Owner: Adrian Greenwood

24Dec83

Bradbury Handicap Chase
3m

Sedgefield
Jockey: M Barnes

Owner: Adrian Greenwood

15Dec83

Christmas Stocking Handicap Chase
3m ½f

Southwell
Jockey: Phil Tuck

Owner: Adrian Greenwood

12Apr83

McDonagh Novice Chase
3m

Sedgefield
Jockey: Phil Tuck

Owner: Adrian Greenwood

27Dec80

Alnwick Castle Novices Hurdle
2m ½f

Newcastle
Jockey: R Lamb

Owner: Adrian Greenwood

28Nov80

Pickwell 3 yo Novices Hurdle
2m

Leicester
Jockey: Phil Tuck

Owner: Adrian Greenwood



MR SNUGFIT

bay gelding

1977
Jukebox Sing Sing Tudor Minstrel
Agin The Law
Bibi Mah Tehran
Mulier Magnifica
Sinzinbra Royal Palace Ballymoss
Crystal Palace
La Lidia Matador (IRE)
Lady Grand