Sean Bowen Blog | Cheltenham November Meeting: Day Two
15 Nov 2024
Coral Racing Ambassador, Sean Bowen, previews his six rides on the second day of Cheltenham's November Meeting, including Fugitif in the Gold Cup Handicap.
12:35 Cheltenham – Static
Another busy Saturday to look forward to, starting with Static in the Grade 2 juvenile hurdle. This ex-French runner made a promising start for Olly [Murphy] when finishing second to a nice sort at Wetherby, and that looks a solid level form to bring here. At this early stage of the season you just don’t know how good some of these young hurdlers are, so we don’t know what we’re up against.
He was a little bit quirky in France, running out a couple of times, but he was straightforward enough at Wetherby, and jumped well. He does have to carry a penalty here because of his French wins, but he should improve for his first run.
13:45 Cheltenham – Western Zephyr
Western Zephyr won very nicely at Carlisle last month, he looks a horse who goes well fresh at this time of year, so it’s good to be on him again here. My concern is that all is best form is on right-handed tracks, and he can hang right, so going left-handed here is a concern. That said, he’s a good jumper, he likes to front run, so if he acts going this way round, he has an each-way chance.
14:20 Cheltenham – Fugitif
Fugitif has an excellent course record, finishing fourth in this race last year, and then winning the December Gold Cup, and has run well in many other races here. It’s a competitive race as you’d expect, with runners with Grade One form in here, but my fellow clearly enjoys these big field handicaps here, and is only rated a pound higher than when he won the race here last December, so he must have a chance of being in the mix.
14:55 Cheltenham – Pinnacle Peak
I’ve ridden this fellow plenty of times, and he’s another with excellent course form. He’s been off since his run at this meeting last year, so I’m sure he’ll improve for this. He’s off a low weight here, which will help him, but it’s a competitive handicap hurdle and winning it first time up is a big ask.
15:30 Cheltenham – Long Draw
Frustrating is how I’d sum up this horse’s autumn so far! Three times I thought we were going to win, three times we’ve finished second. I don’t think he’s ungenuine or anything though, he’s just been a bit unlucky. I’m sure he’ll run another solid race, whether he’s quite good enough in what looks a wide open heat, remains to be seen.
16:00 Cheltenham – That’ll Do Moss
A nice looking spare to end the day, this mare won her first Bumper very nicely back in June. Her trainer, Fergal O’Brien, runs three here, so I’m sure he has an idea of how they rate against each other, but I’m very happy to be riding for him at a track he does well at, and it would be no surprise to see her run well.
Sean Bowen, Coral Racing Ambassador
12:35 Cheltenham – Static
Another busy Saturday to look forward to, starting with Static in the Grade 2 juvenile hurdle. This ex-French runner made a promising start for Olly [Murphy] when finishing second to a nice sort at Wetherby, and that looks a solid level form to bring here. At this early stage of the season you just don’t know how good some of these young hurdlers are, so we don’t know what we’re up against.
He was a little bit quirky in France, running out a couple of times, but he was straightforward enough at Wetherby, and jumped well. He does have to carry a penalty here because of his French wins, but he should improve for his first run.
13:45 Cheltenham – Western Zephyr
Western Zephyr won very nicely at Carlisle last month, he looks a horse who goes well fresh at this time of year, so it’s good to be on him again here. My concern is that all is best form is on right-handed tracks, and he can hang right, so going left-handed here is a concern. That said, he’s a good jumper, he likes to front run, so if he acts going this way round, he has an each-way chance.
14:20 Cheltenham – Fugitif
Fugitif has an excellent course record, finishing fourth in this race last year, and then winning the December Gold Cup, and has run well in many other races here. It’s a competitive race as you’d expect, with runners with Grade One form in here, but my fellow clearly enjoys these big field handicaps here, and is only rated a pound higher than when he won the race here last December, so he must have a chance of being in the mix.
14:55 Cheltenham – Pinnacle Peak
I’ve ridden this fellow plenty of times, and he’s another with excellent course form. He’s been off since his run at this meeting last year, so I’m sure he’ll improve for this. He’s off a low weight here, which will help him, but it’s a competitive handicap hurdle and winning it first time up is a big ask.
15:30 Cheltenham – Long Draw
Frustrating is how I’d sum up this horse’s autumn so far! Three times I thought we were going to win, three times we’ve finished second. I don’t think he’s ungenuine or anything though, he’s just been a bit unlucky. I’m sure he’ll run another solid race, whether he’s quite good enough in what looks a wide open heat, remains to be seen.
16:00 Cheltenham – That’ll Do Moss
A nice looking spare to end the day, this mare won her first Bumper very nicely back in June. Her trainer, Fergal O’Brien, runs three here, so I’m sure he has an idea of how they rate against each other, but I’m very happy to be riding for him at a track he does well at, and it would be no surprise to see her run well.
Sean Bowen, Coral Racing Ambassador
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