Sean Bowen Friday Blog | Chepstow's Welsh Racing Festival Day One
09 Oct 2025
Coral Racing Ambassador, Sean Bowen, previews his seven rides at Chepstow on Friday, including Olly Murphy's new Irish recruit, Sticktotheplan, in the Grade 2 Persian War Novices' Hurdle.
I'm delighted with the start I have made to the new season. I reached the 100-winners tally earlier this week and that's my fastest century to start a season. I think my previous best was mid-November. Hopefully I can keep things going and I will be working just as hard, despite my early lead.
The Welsh Racing Festival at Chepstow is a meeting we look forward to. For many, it’s the first big meeting of the season and this is where we start seeing some good horses return from their summer breaks.
13:22 Chepstow – Karonacho
Karonacho was an expensive purchase as a three-year-old. He's a very well-bred horse and his schooling's been good. He ran well in his first bumper and then he disappointed a little bit around Chepstow on his second start.
This is a good starting point for him in the campaign on nice ground, he'll learn plenty from this and then we can go on from there.
13:57 Chepstow – Kenzoko
Just like Karonacho, we are keen to start Kenzoko on nice ground. He was a little disappointing at Ffos Las on his first start for Olly Murphy but that was back in April, so there is a good chance he has developed since then. Olly’s horses are in great form, so it would be no surprise if he took a big step forward here.
14:32 Chepstow – Springs A Girl
Springs A Girl ran a cracker at Worcester on her last start, finishing second behind a horse that had been improving all summer. She jumped well around Worcester and it was over a trip that probably was too short for her.
She’s back up to 2m4f and I really fancy her chances.
15:12 Chepstow – Tullybeg
I don't think Tullybeg has featured in many veterans’ races before. Sometimes in these races, it can be like coming down in grade for these older horses and it will be interesting to see what he can do. He was set to run a massive race at Perth a couple of starts ago when he unshipped his jockey two out. He’s a few pounds lower since that run as well.
His form has been in and out recently but if we catch him on a good day, he should go close.
15:43 Chepstow – Sticktotheplan
Sticktotheplan has recently joined Olly Murphy’s yard from Ireland and he looked impressive at Galway over 2 miles on his last run. He is now going up in trip to 2m4f and that should suit him. He has been working well at home with a hood on, so we are leaving that on him.
I'm excited to see what he can do and if he produces what he has been showing at home, he'll have a massive shot.
16:55 Chepstow – Razzle Dazzle Boy
Razzle Dazzle Boy had some good form last season. He was a winner at Sandown three runs back whilst last time out, he finished second at Newbury. Some of Tim Vaughan’s runners have produced great performances on their opening starts of the season.
It's obviously a competitive race with 18 runners, but he hopefully can reproduce what he was doing last season.
17:30 Chepstow – Conniemak
I know very little about Conniemak as I have'nt ridden her before. She's had three runs now and this is her handicap debut, so we will find out where she is with her mark.
Hopefully, I can end the busy day on a high.
Sean Bowen, Coral Racing Ambassador
I'm delighted with the start I have made to the new season. I reached the 100-winners tally earlier this week and that's my fastest century to start a season. I think my previous best was mid-November. Hopefully I can keep things going and I will be working just as hard, despite my early lead.
The Welsh Racing Festival at Chepstow is a meeting we look forward to. For many, it’s the first big meeting of the season and this is where we start seeing some good horses return from their summer breaks.
13:22 Chepstow – Karonacho
Karonacho was an expensive purchase as a three-year-old. He's a very well-bred horse and his schooling's been good. He ran well in his first bumper and then he disappointed a little bit around Chepstow on his second start.
This is a good starting point for him in the campaign on nice ground, he'll learn plenty from this and then we can go on from there.
13:57 Chepstow – Kenzoko
Just like Karonacho, we are keen to start Kenzoko on nice ground. He was a little disappointing at Ffos Las on his first start for Olly Murphy but that was back in April, so there is a good chance he has developed since then. Olly’s horses are in great form, so it would be no surprise if he took a big step forward here.
14:32 Chepstow – Springs A Girl
Springs A Girl ran a cracker at Worcester on her last start, finishing second behind a horse that had been improving all summer. She jumped well around Worcester and it was over a trip that probably was too short for her.
She’s back up to 2m4f and I really fancy her chances.
15:12 Chepstow – Tullybeg
I don't think Tullybeg has featured in many veterans’ races before. Sometimes in these races, it can be like coming down in grade for these older horses and it will be interesting to see what he can do. He was set to run a massive race at Perth a couple of starts ago when he unshipped his jockey two out. He’s a few pounds lower since that run as well.
His form has been in and out recently but if we catch him on a good day, he should go close.
15:43 Chepstow – Sticktotheplan
Sticktotheplan has recently joined Olly Murphy’s yard from Ireland and he looked impressive at Galway over 2 miles on his last run. He is now going up in trip to 2m4f and that should suit him. He has been working well at home with a hood on, so we are leaving that on him.
I'm excited to see what he can do and if he produces what he has been showing at home, he'll have a massive shot.
16:55 Chepstow – Razzle Dazzle Boy
Razzle Dazzle Boy had some good form last season. He was a winner at Sandown three runs back whilst last time out, he finished second at Newbury. Some of Tim Vaughan’s runners have produced great performances on their opening starts of the season.
It's obviously a competitive race with 18 runners, but he hopefully can reproduce what he was doing last season.
17:30 Chepstow – Conniemak
I know very little about Conniemak as I have'nt ridden her before. She's had three runs now and this is her handicap debut, so we will find out where she is with her mark.
Hopefully, I can end the busy day on a high.
Sean Bowen, Coral Racing Ambassador
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