COTSWOLD trainer Charlie Longsdon was delighted with Snow Leopardess after her second-placed finish in a thrilling renewal of the Betfred Grand National Trial at Haydock.

Longsdon was full of praise for the mare, ridden by Gavin Sheehan, who was narrowly beaten by Venetia Williams' 18-1 shot Quick Wave in a brilliant finale. 

Cloudy Glen led the race from the outset but began to feel the effects of his early exertions, and it turned into a straight shootout from halfway up the straight, with popular mare Snow Leopardess and Quick Wave going at it.

There was little to choose between the pair jumping the final fence and both gave it their all, but it was Quick Wave who just found most for pressure to prevail by three-quarters of a length.

Snow Leopardess is being lined up for the Cross County at the Cheltenham Festival next month.

"She’s run an absolute cracker to be honest. It’s great to get her back on the form we want her to be in and there’s no disgrace in finishing second," he said.

"We’re gutted not to win of course, but that’s neither here nor there and that will hopefully set her up nicely for the cross-country next month.

"She gets her 7lb claim (at Cheltenham) and I’m hopeful we can sneak into the place there. She’s been a superstar mare for us and I can’t ask any more from her."