Sean Bowen Saturday rides blog: 'He's a promising ride to have picked up'

Sean Bowen shares his latest Saturday rides blog with Coral, exclusively previewing his action at Sandown on April 26 as we approach the end of the season.

Final day of the season, and what a season it’s been. It’s beginning to sink in that I’m going to be champion jockey, something I’ve dreamed about since I was a boy. I have so many people to thank, mum and dad, obviously, and my brothers, all the owners and trainers that have supported me through my career, the other jockeys who have given me advice and help, champions like Brian Hughes, AP, Richard Johnson, it will take some time for me to consider myself a champion like them.

 I’ve had a great week, winning the Irish National, and riding a treble at Perth on Thursday, so hopefully I can keep it going until the end. I start the day on Nardaran in this valuable and competitive novice handicap hurdle. As a 4-y-o it won’t be easy against older rivals, but he won well at Taunton last time, is lightly-raced, and trained by one of the best [Paul Nicholls]. We don’t know how well handicapped he is, but he’s a promising ride to have picked up.

Classic Anthem runs his best races here at Sandown, and won nicely here for me last month, a victory that saw his mark go up five pounds, which I hope he can cope with. In that form I hope he will take a lot of beating here, he’s getting weight from all of the others so he does need to improve, but he gave me the feel that he could last time.

Of all the people I have to thank for helping me become champion, Olly Murphy is top of the list. I think he was as keen as me that I would win it this season, having come so close last year, and he’s provided me with so many rides and winners, I owe him so much, and winning the last big race of the season would be the perfect way to repay some of that debt.

I actually think Resplendent Grey has a very good chance, with the form of his fourth place at the Cheltenham Festival behind Haiti Couleurs looking really strong after that one did what he did in the Irish National. He ran well here at Sandown when he finished second in a Grade 2 novice chase before Christmas, and this has been the plan since Cheltenham. It won’t be easy against all these Willie Mullins-trained runners, but as I say the form is in the book, and victory for Olly really would be the icing on the cake.

Also with rides on Saturday is Coral ambassador David Probert, who previews all his action in his own exclusive blog.

View the latest horse racing odds

All odds and markets correct as of date of publication.