Sean Bowen Kelso Preview: I’d certainly be hopeful he can be very competitive
02 Mar 2024
Coral Racing Ambassador, Sean Bowen, gives an exclusive preview of his three rides at Kelso this afternoon, including Thunder Rock in the Listed Premier Chase.
13:42 Kelso – Brewin’upastorm
He is getting on a bit now Brewin’upastorm, but I do still think there’s plenty of ability there. This is his first start in a handicap for a little while, and he does carry plenty of weight, but he should definitely appreciate these calmer waters even though it is a competitive little race.
I actually thought his run at Cheltenham last time was quite a good effort, and even though Bob Olinger hacked up that day, this lad wasn’t far behind Marie’s Rock who has franked that form since. I know he has his fair share of weight here, but I’d certainly be hopeful he can be very competitive.
15:25 Kelso – Thunder Rock
Jumping has been a bit of an issue for Thunder Rock of late, so I’m hoping this step back up in trip will help him in that regard. He’s a good horse, but I just think he found things happening a bit quickly for him at Musselburgh last time, so this stiffer test should suit him. That was a step back in the right direction last time though, so I’m very hopeful he can build on that here.
He does have to carry a penalty here, and giving weight away to horses like Monbeg Genius and Minella Drama won’t be easy, but I don’t think we’ve seen the best of Thunder Rock yet, so I’m hoping he can go well.
PREMIER CHASE – LATEST BETTING HERE
16:00 Kelso – Chasing Fire
I’d have to say Chasing Fire has disappointed me to be honest, because I had really high hopes that he could make up into a graded performer. It is still early days for him over fences, but things just haven’t panned out for him as I’d hoped. He keeps taking steps back rather than forward, and I really hoped he’d kick on from that win at Uttoxeter earlier in the season.
He goes up slightly in trip at Kelso this weekend, so hopefully that will see him return to the form he showed a few months back. Olly hasn’t rushed him back since his last run, and that does seem to have freshened up a little, but he really will need to bounce back to form if he’s going to win this.
Sean Bowen, Coral Racing Ambassador
13:42 Kelso – Brewin’upastorm
He is getting on a bit now Brewin’upastorm, but I do still think there’s plenty of ability there. This is his first start in a handicap for a little while, and he does carry plenty of weight, but he should definitely appreciate these calmer waters even though it is a competitive little race.
I actually thought his run at Cheltenham last time was quite a good effort, and even though Bob Olinger hacked up that day, this lad wasn’t far behind Marie’s Rock who has franked that form since. I know he has his fair share of weight here, but I’d certainly be hopeful he can be very competitive.
15:25 Kelso – Thunder Rock
Jumping has been a bit of an issue for Thunder Rock of late, so I’m hoping this step back up in trip will help him in that regard. He’s a good horse, but I just think he found things happening a bit quickly for him at Musselburgh last time, so this stiffer test should suit him. That was a step back in the right direction last time though, so I’m very hopeful he can build on that here.
He does have to carry a penalty here, and giving weight away to horses like Monbeg Genius and Minella Drama won’t be easy, but I don’t think we’ve seen the best of Thunder Rock yet, so I’m hoping he can go well.
PREMIER CHASE – LATEST BETTING HERE
16:00 Kelso – Chasing Fire
I’d have to say Chasing Fire has disappointed me to be honest, because I had really high hopes that he could make up into a graded performer. It is still early days for him over fences, but things just haven’t panned out for him as I’d hoped. He keeps taking steps back rather than forward, and I really hoped he’d kick on from that win at Uttoxeter earlier in the season.
He goes up slightly in trip at Kelso this weekend, so hopefully that will see him return to the form he showed a few months back. Olly hasn’t rushed him back since his last run, and that does seem to have freshened up a little, but he really will need to bounce back to form if he’s going to win this.
Sean Bowen, Coral Racing Ambassador
Share
