Sean Bowen blog: ‘He could hit the frame if everything falls right’
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The latest Sean Bowen blog sees the leading jockey preview the prospects of his rides at Sandown this weekend.
It’s great that we are finally at the climax of the national hunt season, but I certainly wouldn’t mind a few more days to try and catch Harry in the jockey’s championship. It is incredible that I’ve managed to get so close after the injury, so whatever happens over the next few days, I have to be very proud of what I’ve achieved.
I haven’t given up just yet, but I do recognise I will have to do something pretty spectacular now if I’m going to be champion jockey this year. I’ve made it very clear from day one that that is the goal, so if it doesn’t happen for me this year, then I’ll be trying even harder to get that title next season.
Sean Bowen blog
1:50 Sandown – Act Of Authority
He’s shown a good level of form when winning his three novice hurdles, but we don’t really know where he is in terms of his handicap mark. A mark of 129 would look reasonable on a couple of pieces of from, but you couldn’t say he’s thrown in off that sort of mark.
He comes into the race in good form, and while he’s shown that he’s pretty versatile with regard to ground, he is flat-bred, so hopefully this good ground will really suit him. It’s a competitive handicap, and a few of them bring some very good form to the race, but it wouldn’t be a big surprise if this lad got competitive.
3:35 Sandown – Courtland
This looks a very competitive renewal of this race, and the Irish runners are certainly adding to that. Although the race Courtland won at Hereford last time did fall apart a bit, he could hardly have been more impressive, so at least he comes here full of confidence. He’s a horse who tends to show his best form on decent ground too, so the drying conditions will be very much to his liking.
He did win over two miles last time, so this is a big step up in trip, but he’s won over three miles before, so hopefully he’ll stay the trip, even though it is a bit of an unknown for him. It’s obviously a very hot race, and he is a huge price, but he could just hit the frame if everything falls right for him.
4:10 Sandown – Brewin’upastorm
I thought it was an excellent bit of placing from Olly to send him over to win that Grade 2 in Ireland last time, and hopefully that’s restored a bit of his confidence. While he’s not getting any younger, he did prove that he still retains plenty of ability, but I don’t think there’s any doubt that this is a much more competitive race.
Impaire Et Passe and Langer Dan certainly set the standard based on that Aintree race last time, but I’m just hoping that Brewin’upastorm getting his head back in front has done him the world of good, and if it has, then he might not be too far away.
4:45 Sandown – Western Zephyr
Western Zephyr is another horse who should appreciate this ground, and although he hasn’t matched his best form so far this season, I did think that run last time was a step back in the right direction. I don’t think he’s badly handicapped either off a mark of 125, so hopefully he can build on that run last time.
He’s yet to get off the mark over fences, and this is a very tough race to try and do it in, but the ability is there, so hopefully he can put it all together this weekend.
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