Sean Bowen Saturday rides blog: 'This horse has a good chance if the ground doesn’t become heavy'

Sean Bowen has five rides at Sandown on Saturday, December 6. The Coral ambassador previews them all in his latest blog.

• Dramatic Encore - Sandown - 12:43 race odds

• Ikarak - Sandown - 1.20 race odds

• Alnilam - Sandown - 1.50 race odds

• Go Dante - Sandown - 2.25 race odds

• Hung Jury - Sandown - 3.35 race odds

Sandown 12.43 – Dramatic Encore

This will be my first time on board Dramatic Encore. She broke her maiden at Huntingdon at the first attempt over hurdles, and she has fared well on her two starts since then, including at Warwick last time. Harry Derham’s horses are in great form, so hopefully this mare can keep that run going for him.

Sandown 1.20 – Ikarak

I've switched from Chasing Fire to Ikarak in this race as the ground has just gone too soft for the former. I rode Ikarak to victory at Lingfield last month. He has gone up 4lb for that win, and hopefully he can defy his rise in the weights. Unlike Chasing Fire, he will have no issues with the ground.

Sandown 1.50 – Alnilam

Alnilam is stepping up in class for the Grade One Henry VIII Novices’ Chase. From the moment I got off him at Cheltenham on his last run, Olly Murphy has been keen to run in this race. He jumped well in that contest and showed a great engine.

Sandown is a tough test for novices, as they must get into a good rhythm with their jumping, particularly in the back straight with the Railway Fences. If he jumps as well as he did at Cheltenham, he will be there with a massive chance. 

Sandown 2.25 – Go Dante

Go Dante is a two-time Imperial Cup winner, so he has shown he loves it at this racecourse. He is 3lb higher than when he last won the Imperial Cup, so he will need to prove himself off this mark. Any rain will be in his favour, as he is happy going on soft ground.

Sandown 3.35 – Hung Jury

I was impressed with what Hung Jury produced last time out at Cheltenham on heavy ground. He will stay every yard of this trip, regardless of the ground. Martin Keighley’s horses are absolutely flying, so I am optimistic of a great ride in the London National to finish the afternoon.

View the latest horse racing odds and specials.

All odds and markets correct as of date of publication.