Huntingdon Racecourse: Double for Sean Bowen
There was some competitive racing on at Huntingdon Racecourse this Thursday with a good spread of success across the seven-race card, but the main story was Sean Bowen riding two favourites to justify their price and come home the victors of their respective races.
The action was shown live on Racing TV, where you can also find free bets for Cheltenham.
We began with a two-mile handicap chase (1.06) which got Sean Bowen’s afternoon off to a flying start. The James Owen-trained Secret Des Dieux raced prominently before taking the lead with two fences left to jump, going clear in the final stages and eventually winning by 13 lengths to the runner-up, Epinephrine.
Next was a two-mile maiden hurdle (1.41). Denis Quinn and Callum Pritchard teamed up for the win here, as 8/1 shot Burano Murano outran his price to keep on well into the lead after keeping close tabs on the leader in running. The favourite, Idaho Valley, finished third behind Lejo De Seuil.
Race three was a two and a half mile handicap chase (2.16). The Evan Williams-trained Owl Of Athens got the better of market leader Carpe Diem here, enjoying the heavy ground and outstaying the rest to win by a very impressive margin of 18 lengths under Conor Ring. The favourite was second with Ballywood the only other finisher.
The fourth race was a maiden hurdle over the same trip (2.51). First-season trainer Faye Bramley celebrated a win here with the Harry Cobden-ridden Kom Tu Voudras. In the famous gold and green JP McManus colours, the six-year-old raced in touch with the leaders but was nudged to move forward and kept on well on the run-in to win by a length to Spring Serenade.
Next we had a two-mile novices’ handicap hurdle (3.26). Martin Keighley and James Best were the winning trainer-jockey combination here as market leader Postponed Legacy made his way to the front to win by over four lengths. Following him home were 12/1 shot Peace In The Park in second and 40/1 outsider Steel Soldier in third.
Second to last was a mares’ novices’ handicap hurdle over two and a half miles (4.01). Sean Bowen had his second winner of the afternoon here, on board Olly Murphy’s Natus Vincere, who was the 13/8 favourite. When asked for effort, the mare made steady progress to take the lead and win by nearly two lengths to After Many Days in second.
Finally, racing concluded with a three-mile handicap chase (4.36). Wiltshire-based handler Neil King had the final winner, ridden by Lily Jones; Sporting Ace, a 10-year-old veteran, who rallied when looking beaten to get up and win by half a length to the Sean Bowen-ridden Dangerous Touch.
Huntingdon Results - Thursday:
1.06 - Secret Des Dieux (1/4F)
1.41 - Burano Murano (8/1)
2.16 - Owl Of Athens (15/8)
2.51 - Kom Tu Voudras (5/2)
3.26 - Postponed Legacy (4/9F)
4.01 - Natus Vincere (13/8F)
4.36 - Sporting Ace (13/2)