Hot To Trot: Bowen blooming in the spring again

Jumps trainer: Peter Bowen

Peter Bowen has landed some big prizes in April in years gone by – Henllan Harri in last year’s bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown and Al Co in the 2014 Scottish Grand National for example -  and the yard landed a couple of good prizes over the Easter weekend with Rons Dream winning a competitive mares’ handicap chase at Haydock and Henri Parry Morgan successful in the West Wales National at Ffos Las. Henri Parry Morgan and Minella Daddy are both entered in the Grand National, though are probably too far down the weights to have a realistic chance of lining up next Saturday. Bowen also has several entries in the Topham the day before, Henri Parry Morgan included, a race which he first won with Dunbrody Millar in 2007, though is better known for saddling Always Waining to win three consecutive renewals between 2010 and 2012. Before Aintree, hat-trick seeking novice hurdler Lord Napier is one to look out for if taking up any of his engagements in the coming days. He’s progressed with each run over hurdles, easily landing the odds at Sedgefield last month, and holds an entry in the Scottish Champion Hurdle later in April. Cruising Bye won three times in a former spell with Bowen and was having only his second start since rejoining the yard when second at Bangor recently. The stiffer track at Hexham will suit him if taking up his entry in the three-mile handicap chase there on Tuesday.

HENRI PARRY MORGAN – Race 5 winner, congratulations to winning jockey @Sean_Bowen_ & trainer @Peter_Bowen_ pic.twitter.com/vQa4whYnjn

— Ffos Las Racecourse (@FfosLasRC) 1 April 2018

Flat trainer: Tom Dascombe

Kachy has been the top sprinter on the all-weather this winter and shaped as if still in good form when second to the French-trained winner City Light in the Sprint on All-Weather Championships Finals day at Lingfield recently. Another good sprinter in Tom Dascombe’s string who’s clearly in fine heart is Calder Prince who ran out an impressive winner of a handicap at Wolverhampton on Thursday, while another recent success was Dante/Derby entry Proschema getting off the mark on Lincoln day at Doncaster. With the yard clearly going well at present, smart recruit Doctor Sardonicus could be interesting on his first start for Dascombe in the five-furlong conditions event at Wolverhampton on Monday evening. He won twice at Chelmsford for his former trainer David Simcock last year, and it’s interesting that his regular jockey Martin Harley has kept the ride. The stable also has Admiral Spice entered in the apprentice handicap at Wolverhampton on Tuesday. He ended last season in good form when switched to the tapeta at Newcastle.  

Under the radar: Daniel Loughnane

Daniel Loughnane only moved into his purpose-built yard near Kidderminster around this time last year and from his new base has made a good start to the current campaign, with ten wins on the all-weather (one of them in France) since the beginning of January. Star of the operation at the moment is Dark Alliance who joined Loughnane in the second half of last year and recently chalked up his fourth win of 2018 at Wolverhampton last month. Loughnane has chances of being among the winners again at his local track next week. Lord Murphy won twice there last year, and while yet to get his head in front this term, he’s gone close several times, including when second at Wolverhampton last time out, and has a couple of entries on Monday’s card. Joys Delight is still a maiden, but she has finished second on her last couple of visits to Wolverhampton and she too holds a choice of engagements in handicaps there on Monday. Dream Magic has won twice at Wolverhampton over the winter, and while he was declared for Saturday night’s meeting, he’s also got the option of turning out again on Tuesday.