Sean Blog Saturday rides blog: 'Then it'll be full steam ahead for Cheltenham'

Sean Bowen shares his latest Coral blog ahead of Saturday's big day at Newbury, previewing his three rides.

Haiti Couleurs heads back over hurdles this weekend with one eye on the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. Rebecca just wanted to protect his chase mark ahead of that, but some of his form over hurdles last season certainly entitles him to go well in this race, so hopefully he can put up a bold showing. 

As I say, ultimately the National Hunt Chase is his main target, and he proved he acts at Cheltenham when winning there the last day, so with the extra distance sure to suit him, I think he’d go into that race with a really good chance. Hopefully, he can run a good race at Newbury this weekend, then it’ll be full steam ahead for Cheltenham.

He was entered in the veterans’ race at Warwick too this weekend, but that was only in case Newbury was called off, so all being well, he’ll head here for the Denman Chase. It’s a strong race, and he has a bit to find with the ones at the head of the market, but he ran a decent race at Cheltenham last time out, so I’m hoping he can outrun his odds.

He goes back up to three miles here, and despite the fact the majority of his best form is over shorter, we’re just hoping at the age of 10 that he can last home over this longer trip. As I say, he has a bit to find with a few of them, but hopefully he can run a decent race and pick up some prize money.

I’m really looking forward to riding Secret Squirrel here, and it’s nice to be on the favourite in such a valuable handicap, so hopefully he goes there with a favourite’s chance. He’s very consistent, and he proved he’s tough last time too bouncing back to win after having a bad fall the time before at Ascot.

The handicapper has obviously had his say after that win last time, but if you were going to ride anything in the race you’d want to be on this lad, so hopefully he can pick up another big prize here for his connections.