Sean Bowen has a chance to put more distance between himself and Brian Hughes at the top of the Jump Jockeys Championship on Friday.
The top Welsh jockey has three rides at Cartmel as he strives to stay well clear of Hughes.
Bowen currently stands at the top of the jockey’s table with 41 victories so far this season, well ahead of current champion Hughes, who is on 25.
Hughes won the title last year with 165 winners, his third crown in four years.
The son of trainer Peter Bowen, Sean also has an impressive strike rate of 26%, second only to Nico de Boinville who leads with 29%. But De Boinville has only had 42 rides this season, compared to Bowen’s 159 times in the saddle.
At Cartmel, Bowen rides Dee Star in the Cark Manor Handicap Chase at 2.30pm, a horse that he rode to victory on the same track a month ago.
He’s been raised 8lbs as a result of that win, but he still offers Bowen a good opportunity for an early addition to his winning tally.
Hughes rides Grange Ranger in the same race, whilst Welsh trainer Christian Wiliams enters Jony Max, second at Fakenham last month behind Duc De Beauchene.
Hughes rides Raecius Felix for trainer Rebecca Menzies in another handicap chase at 3.05pm, while the Williams-trained Joey Steel is ridden by Ellis Collier.
Another Welsh jockey, Jack Tudor, is in action in the Molson Coors Handicap Chase at 3.40pm. He rides the Williams-trained Prince Cleni, a winner at Southwell last time out and a horse that looks destined for better things .
Bowen and Hughes resume rivalries over hurdles in the 4.15pm, with the Welsh ace on Our Zebo and Hughes riding Big In Milan.
Both face stiff competition from Ballyquin Bay and Time For Joy.
In the final race at Cartmel, Bowen rides Mrs. Kinsella over hurdles, with Hughes’s challenge coming from Punk Rock Girl.
There are also flat race meetings on Friday at Yarmouth – where Welsh jockey David Probert has five rides – as well as at Doncaster, Newcastle, Newmarket and Chester.
