Sean Bowen Wednesday Blog | Cheltenham April Meeting
16 Apr 2025
Coral Racing Ambassador, Sean Bowen, previews his five rides on the first day of the April Meeting at Cheltenham, including Long Draw for trainer Olly Murphy in the Class 2 Handicap Hurdle over three miles at 15:50.
13:30 Cheltenham – Pleasington
Pleasington won two in a row on heavy ground, and he then went to Naas for a Grade 3 last month, but ran no race at all there for some reason. He needs some ease in the ground to be at his best, so if we don’t see any significant rain, there has to be a big chance he’s a non-runner, but if the rain comes in time and he’s back to his previous form, he would have a chance.
14:05 Cheltenham – Deploy To Spy
This horse completed a hat-trick in the early part of the season, and then went to Doncaster in December, where he ran very poorly. He could have just been too high in the handicap there, or he needed a break, which he’s now had. I think he’s capable of running a big race off this mark, he’s a fresh horse, and an each-way price.
15:15 Cheltenham – Back On The Lash
This fellow is a real old favourite who I’ve ridden plenty of times. He’s come down in the handicap, he likes good ground, and he always runs well at Cheltenham. He is 11 now so he won’t be improving, but at his best, over this trip, he could give me a lovely spin off this low mark.
15:50 Cheltenham – Long Draw
Long Draw has been so consistent all season, and got a well-deserved win here before Christmas, when he beat Gowel Road, form that reads really well now. He’s not run this year as he was balloted out at Cheltenham and Aintree, so we’ve been desperate to get him in a race, now we have I think he has a massive chance.
16:25 Cheltenham – Grandads Cottage
After a couple of disappointing runs, Grandads Cottage ran really well to finish second to Sam Brown in a Veterans’ Chase last time. Unfortunately this isn’t a veterans’ race, although a few of them are that age!
Hymac looks the one to beat, but I hope my fellow is in the form of that Newbury second, and then whatever he does here, he’ll appreciate being back in those veterans’ races.
Sean Bowen, Coral Racing Ambassador
13:30 Cheltenham – Pleasington
Pleasington won two in a row on heavy ground, and he then went to Naas for a Grade 3 last month, but ran no race at all there for some reason. He needs some ease in the ground to be at his best, so if we don’t see any significant rain, there has to be a big chance he’s a non-runner, but if the rain comes in time and he’s back to his previous form, he would have a chance.
14:05 Cheltenham – Deploy To Spy
This horse completed a hat-trick in the early part of the season, and then went to Doncaster in December, where he ran very poorly. He could have just been too high in the handicap there, or he needed a break, which he’s now had. I think he’s capable of running a big race off this mark, he’s a fresh horse, and an each-way price.
15:15 Cheltenham – Back On The Lash
This fellow is a real old favourite who I’ve ridden plenty of times. He’s come down in the handicap, he likes good ground, and he always runs well at Cheltenham. He is 11 now so he won’t be improving, but at his best, over this trip, he could give me a lovely spin off this low mark.
15:50 Cheltenham – Long Draw
Long Draw has been so consistent all season, and got a well-deserved win here before Christmas, when he beat Gowel Road, form that reads really well now. He’s not run this year as he was balloted out at Cheltenham and Aintree, so we’ve been desperate to get him in a race, now we have I think he has a massive chance.
16:25 Cheltenham – Grandads Cottage
After a couple of disappointing runs, Grandads Cottage ran really well to finish second to Sam Brown in a Veterans’ Chase last time. Unfortunately this isn’t a veterans’ race, although a few of them are that age!
Hymac looks the one to beat, but I hope my fellow is in the form of that Newbury second, and then whatever he does here, he’ll appreciate being back in those veterans’ races.
Sean Bowen, Coral Racing Ambassador
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