Mickey Bowen eager to continue family love affair with big Market Rasen prize
His two jockey sons are also on the list, with current champion Sean riding More Buck's to glory in 2008 while his younger brother James was on Francky Du Berlais for back-to-back successes in 2021 and 2022.
Now training in his own right, Mickey runs both Courtland and Statuario to continue the family tradition. However, due to Sean's job with Olly Murphy and James' link with Nicky Henderson, Shane Fenelon and Adam Wedge ride his respectively.
'I was only two years old when dad first won the race with Stately Home back in 1997 and my first real memory of the race was when Ballycassidy won it in 2003 when I was about seven or eight,' Bowen said.
'To win the Perth Gold Cup with Statuario last month was great, but winning this would be an even better day. The preparation for both horses has gone well so we will give it a good go.
'Pressure is for tyres and we have not put any extra pressure on ourselves for the race, but we will be trying our very best to win it.'
Regarding Statuario he said: 'He seems as good as ever. He was only beaten five lengths in the race last year off 135 and this year he is 5lb lower so the handicapper has been a bit more lenient on him.
'He is a very good horse and off a mark of 130 he would have a right chance with conditions looking right for him.
'Although he is coming back down in distance you have got to really stay the trip in the Summer Plate as they go some gallop from start to finish and that will suit him well.
'Courtland had a bit of a leg injury, but it was nothing too serious and we have been gearing him towards the Summer Plate.
'He is in brilliant form and he ran well at Cartmel the last day. He probably didn't like the soft ground up there, however he stayed on well and he will come on for that.
'He finished second in the race two years ago and he has since been dropped a pound following his last run.
'Shane takes another 5lb off his back, which is a help, so I'd be very hopeful of him giving a good account of himself.'
Murphy and Sean Bowen team up with last year's winner, Sure Touch.
'He loves a bit of summer ground, he's back to Market Rasen and a big handicap. We'll need a bit of luck in-running, but if he gets that, I can't see why he wouldn't run well,' Murphy said.
'I just thought I'd target a big race with him. He's a horse that goes well fresh, we won a bumper first time out, obviously he won a Plate after a long break as well.
'So we're just going there with the same kind of plan as last year.'
Harry Cobden has been booked by Gavin Cromwell for Ballysax Hank, while James Bowen is on Bhaloo for Henderson.
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