Addie acts exactly the same at the beginning and the end of the book, despite all she's been through. Longdson is fully aware of the challenge that Snow Leopardess faces in creating a slice of history, but he is confident she will have no problems seeing out the extended four and a quarter mile trip. In its 183 years, the Grand National has made a routine of morphing the impossible into matter of fact. As the pony may be part of the wild Exmoor pony herd that lives on nearby Moorland, Sam tries to help Addie prepare for the day the pony will have to leave the farm. Grab a blanket, a hot chocolate and one of these brilliant books for the ultimate winter experience!

Snow Leopardess aiming for Grand National win like a film Snow Leopardess aiming for Grand National win like a film

Snow Leopardess might be the centre of attention at present but in time Longsdon hopes that her legacy will live on through her daughter Red Panda, who will join his team this summer.

Prior to publication, Snow Foal was shortlisted for the 2017 Joan Aiken Future Classics Prize and given ‘Honorary Mention’ in the Bath Spa/United Agents Prize of that year.

Snow Foal by Susanna Bailey (Egmont) - bookwagon Snow Foal by Susanna Bailey (Egmont) - bookwagon

Snow Foal is a beautiful depiction of what it means to truly open your heart and home to children in the foster system.

Prior to publication, Snow Foal was shortlisted for the 2017 Joan Aiken Future Classics Prize and given 'Honorary Mention' in the Bath Spa/United Agents Prize of that year.

Snow Leopardess is the grey working mum chasing Aintree glory Snow Leopardess is the grey working mum chasing Aintree glory

When Addie's mother is no longer able to take care of her because of her struggles with alcohol, she is brought to Ruth and Sam's farm by her caseworker, Penny. He pushed his soft muzzle beneath frozen branches, twisted his tongue around the bitter, brittle leaves that nestled beneath. And then came the win over the Aintree fences last December which gave owner and trainer alike the belief a Grand National victory could be possible. Although this is a middle-grade novel, I believe that it is something that YA readers and adults will love too, just like I did.

A win in a big race at Haydock Park, the runners-up spot at Wetherby and a fourth at Cheltenham followed, the horse very much improved in the second part of her career. Her biggest victory so far came in the Unibet Becher Chase over the Grand National fences at Aintree on 4 December 2021, when she became the first mare to win this race. When we first started getting her going again in the school, she bucked my granddaughter clean off three times, so we had to do something different after that. She learned the joy of ‘making things’ from her wonderfully creative mother, who was a great weaver of tales.

Snow Foal by Susanna Bailey | WHSmith

I think there is room for much improvement in parental guidance in repudiating this kind of behaviour. Ruth would have rules, too, Addie thought – rules for children like her, who didn’t really belong in this house.Spoiler alert: while ends on a happy note, it feels more realistic because not all of Addie's heartbreak is cured. When small, Sue often made up stories and brought them to life, with paper people on cardboard theatre stages. Mrs Fox-Pitt was there at the birth and explained to the family that the mare’s arrival was the first time she had smiled since her husband Oliver had died in 2012. I was especially touched by Jude who has been through so much and carries so many emotions around with him daily.