Sean Bowen rode a high-profile double at Kelso on Saturday in front of the ITV cameras, writes Jim Beavis
Kupatana had the unpromising form figures of UF2F, but jumped well with one exception and made all the running for an easy win. Paul Nicholls uses Bowen much less than he used to, which can only be Nicholls’ loss. The pair had 21 winners from 86 runners two seasons ago, but they are only 3-15 this time round.
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Half-an-hour later, Bowen was riding Winston C, a horse that has to be held up as long as possible, and he came from last to first to get up on the line, cementing Bowen’s growing association with Harry Fry.
Also on Saturday, Joe Farrell ran a fine second under top weight at Newbury for Rebecca Curtis. It could hardly have been a better prep run for the Scottish National, which he won by a nose last year. He was cut to 12/1 for this year’s race, which is a fortnight away. He is still entered in the Aintree and Irish Nationals, but they appear less likely options.
There were three Welsh successes at Bangor last weekend. Phillip Dando sent Driftwood Haze from his small yard in the village of Peterston-super-Ely to take the long-distance hurdle. The 11-year-old gamely poked his nose through a small gap on the inside rail to lead with less than 50 yards left. Mitchell Bastyan, who is attached to Evan Williams’ yard, was hard at work on him some way out and gave the horse an inspired ride.
In a novices’ hurdle, Copper Gone West obliged at odds-on for Tim Vaughan and Alan Johns. She was impressive, but only had three rivals and the best two didn’t give their running. Nevertheless, the winner is doing little wrong and there’s probably more to come.
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Vaughan might have completed a double in the three-mile chase, for his Danboru was leading at the approach to the final fence. However, he was coming under pressure and fell there, impeding a challenger on his left who’d been going well.
The horse on his right was Dai Rees’ Steel Native, and he had a clear run to the line, ridden by Richard Patrick. While it appeared to be a slightly fortuitous victory, he may have won anyway.
Peter and James Bowen were on the mark with Equus Dancer in a Carlisle bumper on Sunday. His owners, Roddy Owen and Paul Fullagar, rarely have a bad horse and he’ll no doubt pay his way over jumps in the future.
Since Anif joined the David Evans stable he’s won three of his five starts. Allowed an uncontested lead from before halfway in a race at Wolverhampton on Tuesday, he came home three lengths ahead.
The Dai Walters-owned Al Dancer, who won the rearranged Betfair Hurdle but flopped when favourite for the Supreme Novices Hurdle, is likely to be put away now. The thinking is that the Cheltenham race came too soon after his Ascot victory. He is likely to go novice chasing next season.
Flat racing takes centre stage at the weekend with Doncaster and Kempton televised on ITV4 on Saturday. David Probert has several rides at Kempton with each-way prospects.
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Tim Vaughan’s Dovils Date ran his best race for some time at the beginning of the month. He has a choice of three possible engagements at Uttoxeter that day.
The next racing in Wales is on Saturday week, April 6, Grand National day, at Chepstow. A Ffos Las fixture on Sunday, April 7, will be enhanced by a Food and Drink Festival.
