Sean Bowen Blog | Grand National Day
05 Apr 2025
Coral Racing Ambassador, Sean Bowen, previews his five rides at Aintree on Saturday, including Three Card Brag in the Grand National.
13:55 Aintree – Fingle Bridge
I’m looking forward to seeing how he fares up at this level. He is obviously unbeaten over hurdles and he has looked impressive. He beat Regents Stroll last time out at Exeter. I think the course and distance will suit him.
This is a very strong race, with Lulamba setting the standard. My horse didn’t run at Cheltenham, so he should be fresh. I am excited to see what he can do here.
14:30 Aintree – Doctor Ken
He is a lightly raced nine-year-old who seems to get a lot of problems. He runs well fresh, which is a bonus. He had a run at Kempton back in November and has not featured since. It will be hard to win a race like this off that kind of lay-off, but he has ability, and I could see him being competitive at the finish.
15:05 Aintree – Strong Leader
It was a brilliant performance 12 months ago, so we are delighted to return to Aintree for this meeting. He loves it around this course, and I think he is a better horse in the spring.
This is his second run since having a wind-op and I fancy him to be back to his best again.
16:00 Aintree – Three Card Brag
I am so pleased to pick up this ride. This is Gordon Elliott’s best chance in the race and he has been trained with this in mind all season. Gordon obviously knows how to prepare a horse for the Grand National, as he has won this race three times before.
My slight concern is the ground, as I think he would prefer softer ground, but hopefully, they will water the track and conditions will be ok. He is an excellent jumper so the fences will suit.
I was fourth in this race on board Noble Yeats in 2023. I’d love to fulfil a childhood ambition of winning this race, and hopefully, Three Card Brag can provide me with that.
17:35 Aintree – Fountains Blenhein
He beat a hot pot from David Pipe’s yard last time at Fontwell. Anthony Honeyball is very good at training bumper horses. There are a few unexposed runners in this field, but we are one of them, and I think we go into this with a good chance of ending the day on a high.
Sean Bowen, Coral Racing Ambassador
13:55 Aintree – Fingle Bridge
I’m looking forward to seeing how he fares up at this level. He is obviously unbeaten over hurdles and he has looked impressive. He beat Regents Stroll last time out at Exeter. I think the course and distance will suit him.
This is a very strong race, with Lulamba setting the standard. My horse didn’t run at Cheltenham, so he should be fresh. I am excited to see what he can do here.
14:30 Aintree – Doctor Ken
He is a lightly raced nine-year-old who seems to get a lot of problems. He runs well fresh, which is a bonus. He had a run at Kempton back in November and has not featured since. It will be hard to win a race like this off that kind of lay-off, but he has ability, and I could see him being competitive at the finish.
15:05 Aintree – Strong Leader
It was a brilliant performance 12 months ago, so we are delighted to return to Aintree for this meeting. He loves it around this course, and I think he is a better horse in the spring.
This is his second run since having a wind-op and I fancy him to be back to his best again.
16:00 Aintree – Three Card Brag
I am so pleased to pick up this ride. This is Gordon Elliott’s best chance in the race and he has been trained with this in mind all season. Gordon obviously knows how to prepare a horse for the Grand National, as he has won this race three times before.
My slight concern is the ground, as I think he would prefer softer ground, but hopefully, they will water the track and conditions will be ok. He is an excellent jumper so the fences will suit.
I was fourth in this race on board Noble Yeats in 2023. I’d love to fulfil a childhood ambition of winning this race, and hopefully, Three Card Brag can provide me with that.
17:35 Aintree – Fountains Blenhein
He beat a hot pot from David Pipe’s yard last time at Fontwell. Anthony Honeyball is very good at training bumper horses. There are a few unexposed runners in this field, but we are one of them, and I think we go into this with a good chance of ending the day on a high.
Sean Bowen, Coral Racing Ambassador
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