Sean Bowen: Elle Perfecta a mare with plenty of ability
Jockey and Coral ambassador Sean Bowen previews his five rides at Cheltenham on Sunday.
I start the day riding a mare called Innatendue for John McConnell and although I’ve never ridden her before, she seems to go there with a decent chance.
She had some good form for John when she was with him a few years ago but her record has been a bit mixed since then.
She has loads of experience considering she’s running in a maiden hurdle and she’s also in receipt of the mares’ allowance, so although there’s some nice unexposed types in there, hopefully she can put her experience to good use.
13:45 Cheltenham – Elle Perfecta
Elle Perfecta is another Irish mare I’ve never ridden but she won nicely on her chase debut at Kilbeggan two starts ago.
She jumped well that day and it wasn’t a bad run when finishing fourth in a graded novice race at Galway last time, so she’s clearly a mare with plenty of ability.
She goes in a handicap here off a mark of 127 which could be lenient based on some of her best form, so this looks the right race for her and I think she can go well.
Wayfinder was declared for the amateur’s race on Saturday but he’s a non-runner there now, so I think the plan is to run here on Sunday instead.
He ran really well when third on his reappearance here last month and he stayed on very well that day, so the extra couple of furlongs should be right up his street.
He also jumped well that day and it was a bit of a revival from a few disappointing runs last season.
He’s only just above his last winning mark now and if he steps forward for that run, then he definitely has the ability to go close in a race like this.
Go Dante is a horse I’ve always really liked and I was particularly impressed with his win at Wetherby two starts ago.
He jumped nicely, travelled well, and won like the best horse in the race that day, so I thought he’d go to Aintree with a really good chance next time but he was very disappointing up at Liverpool.
He’ll need to bounce back from that run on his seasonal reappearance here, and it is a very competitive race to make your return in, but if he can return to the form of that Wetherby win, then I’d definitely give him a squeak off a mark of 126.
16:00 Cheltenham – Minella Rescue
Minella Rescue goes for the hat-trick here and I know he’s a horse Gary Hanmer has always thought a lot of.
He was very impressive at Stratford back in July and although the race wasn’t run to suit at Warwick last time, he still found a way to win under his penalty, so he’s clearly a horse with plenty of ability.
These Listed Cheltenham bumpers are always very competitive but, as I say, Gary thinks the world of this horse and he should be open to more progress, so I’m looking forward to riding him once again.
Sean
