Sean Bowen Friday rides blog: 'His comeback victory was very encouraging'

Coral ambassador and leading jockey Sean Bowen gives this thoughts on his fives rides on Friday at Market Rasen ahead of a big weekend of racing.

This horse had a long time off following his bumper win, so it was a very encouraging comeback to win at Uttoxeter on his reappearance before Christmas. Market Rasen is a tighter track than Uttoxeter, but I think he’ll handle it well, and stepping up a couple of furlongs in trip should suit him. Hopefully he can do what he did at Uttoxeter, and he should be a nice horse going forward.

Grandads Cottage was another to win well on his comeback run, he jumped well, travelled strongly, and was well on top at the finish at Carlisle. These veterans races are great, he’s relatively lightly raced for a 10-y-o, so there should be more to come, and I hope he can go well once again. 

Third ride of the day, and third runner who ran well on is return, taking second place at Uttoxeter in December. He just took a blow two furlongs out that day, and ran on well again to only be beaten a length, so he should come on plenty for that run and have a decent chance in an open looking race.

I haven’t ridden this mare before, but she won nicely at Wetherby last time, following on from an Aintree fourth. This is a step up in class, but connections will be hoping she can cope with it, and earn some all important black type.