By James Stevens
Wales’ jump jockeys are in flying form and among the best in the country on a good week of results. The Racing Post’s James Stevens has more…
Sean Bowen’s hopes of becoming a Welsh champion jockey got a major boost this week as he closed the gap on early leader Harry Skelton to just two.
It has been a wonderful week for the Pembrokeshire-born rider who has taken full advantage of the two days with jumps meetings around the week.
At Uttoxeter on Tuesday, he enjoyed a brilliant treble and was unlucky not to make it four. He enjoyed two winners for Olly Murphy with Secret Trix and Double Oban while also scored on Pittsburg for Ryan Potter. His one miss was a half-a-length defeat on Fiskardo for his father-brother training duo Peter and Michael Bowen.
He was also in action at Stratford on Sunday and was rewarded with victory aboard Don Rafael in the 2m½f maiden hurdle. That takes his tally to nine winners in July at an impressive 28 per cent strike-rate.
With momentum on his side, he looks set to be busy in the coming week with leading chances at Newton Abbot on Monday and bookings midweek at Uttoxeter.
The major interest will be his weekend ride at Market Rasen’s Summer Plate meeting. His father Peter has won the race eight times and is due to send three to Lincolnshire including two-time winner Francky Du Berlais.
The week gets even better for Bowen as he is set to star in ITV1’s new racing docuseries Champions: Full Gallop which starts this week. The six-time prime-time show will document the last jump season behind the scenes at which Bowen plays a leading role. It is on at 9pm on Friday.
Tudor flying
Two of the top five names in the early stages of the jockeys championship are Welsh with Jack Tudor also starting the season in fine form.
He had just three rides in the week but was rewarded with two winners. He won on Chemical Warfare at Worcester and scored on his only ride at Stratford aboard Hammer Dan.
His July record is even more impressive than Bowen, with five winners from 11 rides, but he trails with a total of 16 winners.
Williams winners
Glamorgan trainer Christian Williams is not afraid to travel to find winners and his near 1,000-mile round trip to Perth in Scotland was once again rewarded.
He was successful at the track near Edinburgh last week, recording a double, and repeated the achievement on Sunday as Tonto Foley and Cap Du Nord won.
The trainer enjoyed the former’s win in particular given it came over two miles and he is best known for training stayers, enjoying two wins in the Scottish National and success in the Welsh Grand National.
