CHAMPION BOWEN ON THE HUNT AGAIN FOR FAKENHAM WINNERS
REIGNING National Hunt champion jockey Sean Bowen looks to add to his tally of winners in defence of his crown with fancied rides on Fakenham’s Greene King Raceday on Wednesday (Oct 29).
Bowen, who last season clocked up his 1,000th career success with a winner at Fakenham, had 118 winners this season after the weekend, more than double his nearest rival, brother James, on 49.
The Welshman has a soft spot for Fakenham and has two rides for Newmarket trainer James Owen, himself leading trainer at the course last season.
In the 1.37pm Greene King Novice Chase, Bowen and Owen run Secret Des Dieux, no stranger to Fakenham, but a five-year-old gelding who will be making his debut over fences, having won over hurdles at the course last November.
Main rival will be Belle Montrose, a mare trained by Sam Drinkwater, who scored over course and distance at Fakenham’s opening meeting of the season 12 days ago.
In the following 2.07pm Greene King Fillies’ Juvenile Hurdle, Bowen and Owen have Zahra Dodville. She raced in France and was last seen finishing third at Clairefontaine 105 days ago, trained by Mme Giada Menato.
Favourite is the most experienced filly in the field, Mayana Blue for Dr Richard Newland and Jamie Insole, her last run seeing her runner-up at Fontwell.
Trainer Neil King scooped the Fakenham Double Up bonus at the seasonal opener and he will be hoping to take the opening 1.07pm Racing TV Maiden Hurdle with Storming George. The gelding makes a hurdling debut after previously winning a Doncaster bumper and being fifth at Aintree. Alex Hales’ North of Richmond, another hurdling debutant and Donald McCain’s American Empire, look dangers.
Bowen rides Karavomylos, trained by brother Mickey in the 2.37pm Robert Edwards Memorial Chase, the gelding unplaced in his last two starts over hurdles. Reforme, for Tom Gretton, is the likely favourite after finishing second at Huntingdon earlier this month.
The 3.07pm Greene King Novice Hurdle sees Bowen partner Michael Keady’s One Million Dreams but the 10-runner race may go to likely favourite Basilette for Seamus Mullins, the mare a recent Stratford winner.
Chase debutant Gata Ban, for trainer Neil Mulholland, is interesting in the 3.37pm Axe The Racing Tax Mares’ Chase, the mare a Hereford hurdles winner in February. Main threats look like Taxus Baccata, fourth at Fakenham’s last meeting over course and distance, Moviddy, twice a previous Fakenham runner-up, and former course hurdles winner Mavis Pike, also making a chasing debut.
The 4.07pm finale, the Racing TV Conditional Jockeys’ Hurdle sees the Matt Crawley trained Dartmouth Rose try to repeat her victory of the last Fakenham meeting, and faces four rivals including former course winner, Sawpit Sienna.
