'Very exciting' mare to bid for five-timer at Cheltenham on Friday - with the Bowens keen to gain course experience for March

Peter and Mickey Bowen are set to run the "very exciting" Flying Fortune at Cheltenham on Friday with a view to potentially returning for the festival in March.

Their five-year-old was beaten in her first five hurdle races but has won all four since, culminating in a seven-and-a-half-length defeat of subsequent winner Intense Approach in the Persian War Novices' Hurdle on soft ground at Chepstow last month.

At the time, joint-trainer Peter Bowen suggested she was unlikely to run again until Christmas, but she is entered for another Grade 2 contest at Cheltenham on Friday, which could be a sighter for the Dawn Run Mares' Novices' Hurdle back there in March.

"It's more than likely she's going to run," said Mickey Bowen, who joined his father on the licence at their Pembrokeshire yard this season.

"She's in good form, she came out of her last win bouncing and we decided to enter her up again as she's in such good form. 

"She's got better as the year's gone on, so we might as well keep going with her and strike while the iron's hot. The ground isn't a worry at all, she'll go on anything within reason."

Flying Fortune, who has been ridden by Mickey's brother James for each of her hurdles victories, has risen 22lbs in the BHA ratings since her winning run began. 

"Horses by Soldier Of Fortunes take longer than others to get the hang of it but once they do they're nice horses," Mickey Bowen said. "That's been the case with every one we've had anyway.

"Her jumping has improved, she's much sharper, and she's just getting better."

The Bowens may not have had a Cheltenham Festival winner but Peter trained Take The Stand finish second in the 2005 Gold Cup and Flying Fortune is under consideration for the mares' novice hurdle.

"Running on Friday will tell us a lot more about her," Mickey Bowen said. "James is thinking that way but we'll see how she goes around Cheltenham.

"She's very exciting, we're very lucky to have her."

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