By James Stevens
It is Glorious Goodwood and Galway week and the Racing Post’s James Stevens looks through the best chances and events on the track…
It is a week of high-class racing in both Britain and Ireland with Glorious Goodwood and Galway in the spotlight and there will be leading Welsh chances at both fixtures.
Established sprinter Rohaan for Pandy trainer David Evans is among the most high-profile names at the meeting with the two-time Royal Ascot winner set to appear in Saturday’s highlight, the Stewards Cup.
He has been a bit disappointing so far this season but his handicap mark has continued to decrease and he could outrun big odds. King’s Code in Tuesday’s Chesterfield Cup is another one to note for the yard.
David Probert has a selection of good rides at the meeting, notably Group 3 Molecomb Stakes contender Arran on Wednesday. The highly rated two-year-old disappointed at Royal Ascot but could bounce back while Desperate Hero is an interesting contender in the King George on Friday.
The Jack Channon-trained four-year-old has been progressive this season, winning at the track in May, and was not beaten too far at Group level last time. He is a 16-1 shot with Dragonbet.
The Galway Plate on Wednesday is the highlight over in the west of Ireland and Statuario and Francky Du Berlais have been given entries by Peter and Michael Bowen. The pair finished third and fourth in the Summer Plate at Market Rasen last month.
In Thursday’s Galway Hurdle the Welsh-owned Fiveonefive could be a live outsider at 18-1 with Dragonbet. He is trained in Ireland by Cian Collins but runs in the colours of Llanelli-based Salvatore Giannini.
Bowen goes top
Sean Bowen continued his sensational run to move into top spot in the jump jockey’s championship standings on the week he enjoyed prime-time TV fame.
The frustrations of an injury midway through last season’s title charge was the basis of Friday’s second episode of Champions: Full Gallop but the Pembrokeshire-born rider has started well in his quest to become champion, with a tally of 38 winners putting him three clear of nearest pursuer Harry Skelton.
Bowen has been nothing short of sensational in recent weeks but the last could be one of his best so far. It started as he guided Cavern Club round the unique Lake District circuit at Cartmel before ensuring a visit to Worcester on Thursday was rewarded with All Well And Good taking the bumper.
His Friday at Uttoxeter got off to a flying start as Deploy To Spy registered an impressive win in the 2m novice hurdle before he partnered Dr Seb to the most unlikely victory. The 3-1 favourite never looked competitive throughout the 2m7½f handicap hurdle, trailing most of the runners turning in, but he was galvanized by Bowen and charged home in the home straight. The horse’s trainer Olly Murphy was shocked by the events.
He told the Racing Post: “I was looking for excuses as to why he ran so bad turning in so it’s quite remarkable. The horse has been on the go for quite some time so maybe he needs a break or he might have got a fright on his first start in a handicap. He’ll have a quiet time now.
“It was a never say die ride from Sean. I never give him instructions as he knows my horses well enough, it was quite remarkable and I haven’t seen one like it for some time.”
He closed out the week at Uttoxeter on Sunday and left happy after Enthused proved too good in the 2m handicap hurdle to continue a sensational start to the season.
Three of the top five jump jockeys in Britain are from Wales after Sean’s brother James upped himself into the frame with three winners.
A good week commenced with a Worcester double on Wednesday, courtesy of A Definite Getaway and Olivers Travels while he was also on the scoresheet at Uttoxeter’s two meetings aboard Virtual Rock and Callin Baton Rouge.
He also enjoyed bragging rights over his brother by beating him for fourth in Saturday’s jump jockeys’ Nunthorpe at York. In a unique test in which jockeys swap stamina-sapping 3m chases for a 59-second dash, he beat his brother’s mount by a nose. The winner was 6-1 favourite Night On Earth for Charlie Todd.
