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- Sean Bowen Earns Chance To Add Grand National Glory To His Incredible Season
Grand National
4.00 Aintree, Saturday
Three Card Brag
Sean Bowen is poised to be crowned champion jockey this season and what a way to cap off his best season than with a Grand National success.
His ride, trained in Ireland by Gordon Elliott, has some solid form including at Grade 1 novice level last season and looks to have been campaigned for the race.
He has potential off a low weight, with Bowen to carry 10st 5lb, but will need to improve a lot to win a race which favours classier horses these days.
Shakem Up'arry
Ben Jones is enjoying a marvellous season, having been appointed stable jockey to the burgeoning Ben Pauling yard at the start of the campaign, and his first Cheltenham Festival winner hopes to give him Aintree glory.
The 11-year-old is clearly well handicapped off just 2lb higher than his Cheltenham-winning mark but the trip is a big question mark. That performance came over two and a half miles and this race is almost two miles longer.
He also has not quite been firing this season, now in his later years, so he looks one of the main outsiders of the race. He may be popular in the betting on National day having been owned by football manager-turned reality TV winner Harry Redknapp.
It will be a busy weekend at Aintree for Wales and these are four leading chances to look out for across the three-day meeting.
Eva’s Oskar
4.05 Aintree Thursday, Foxhunters Chase
This horse has been a flagbearer for Tim Vaughan’s Cowbridge yard in the last few years and returns over the Aintree fences two seasons on from his run in the National.
The eight-time winner is now a hunter chaser and has some promising form in that sphere, including a win at Bangor and close second at Catterick. He has a chance and the trainer’s son Edward takes the ride.
Handstands
1.45 Aintree Friday, Huyton Asphalt Franny Blennerhassett Memorial Mildmay Novices' Chase
If you look out for one horse this weekend, make sure it is Handstands.
He is another ride to note for Jones and gave him a second top-level winner when landing the Scilly Isles at Sandown in February. Connections immediately resisted the temptation to head to Cheltenham and target Aintree and his form has worked out well with the horse he beat going onto win the Arkle.
The track, trip and ground should suit and he could emerge as a Gold Cup player in 2026.
Steel Ally
2.20 Aintree Friday, William Hill Handicap Hurdle
Cardiff-based Sam Thomas is enjoying a marvellous season and is the trainer to watch in big handicaps. This seven-year-old has already taken one, at Haydock in November, and also finished a good second in the Welsh Champion Hurdle.
He has to concede weight because of his class but he is certainly a live player and the conditional to watch Dylan Johnston, who is retained by Dai Walters, takes the ride.
Strong Leader
3.05 Aintree Friday, Ivy Liverpool Hurdle
Perhaps Sean Bowen’s best chance of the meeting comes in the race he won last season. He powered clear to a dominant success for Bowen and this race has been his big target since, having been off the track since January.
Everything is in his favour and a bold bid is expected.
