It was a strange but successful week for Sean Bowen as Wales’ Flat stars were in top form around the country. The Racing Post’s James Stevens has more.
The Harrow Inn At Wanborough Handicap at Bath on Wednesday was a rare experience for Wales’ jump jockey supremo Sean Bowen as he had to face a rival with the same name.
The man vying to become champion jockey over jumps this season took the opportunity to ride on the Flat with no midweek fixtures over timber and faced off with leading Irish amateur Sean D Bowen.
Yet it was Ireland who came out on top in the muddling clash with Maritime Lady winning and For Pleasure, ridden by the Pembrokeshire jockey, only sixth.
Bowen was able to continue his championship charge at Stratford this week as even-money favourite Roaring Legend ran out an emphatic 10-length winner of the novice hurdle at Stratford.
It continued at Fontwell on Sunday as Prince Imperial – also for his retained rider Olly Murphy – cantered home for a 23-length success in the 2m3f maiden hurdle.
His brother James, who is also enjoying a fine start to the campaign, was also on the Stratford scoresheet on Wednesday aboard Callin Baton Rouge.
Excellent week
The country’s top Flat jockey David Probert advertised just how talented he is with six winners across the week.
The highlight in an excellent seven days was undoubtedly a major Ascot double on Saturday. It started as The Reverend landed the 1m4f handicap in impressive fashion for William Haggas and in the silks of Brighton & Hove Albion chairman Tony Bloom. That improving type almost certainly looks a name to note going forward.
A double was completed aboard a course regular in Woolhampton in the spring for Devon-based Rod Milllman.
There was another double to start the week in the space of half an hour for Probert on Monday. He scored aboard Virtue Temperance in the nursery before odds-on shot White Chapel Road prevailed.
Course specialist
A Flat meeting at Chepstow is not the same if Connie’s Rose does not appear on the racecard and she recorded a seventh win at the course.
Trained in Shirenewton, Monmouthshire by Grace Harris, the super sprinter charged home to strike by three quarters of a length and win at odds of 11-8 in the four-runner handicap on Monday.
Harris returned to the track the following day and was rewarded as Savannah Smiles won under Callum Hutchinson.
This season is almost the best yet for Harris with a dozen winners achieved in 2024. Her record total, set last year, was just one higher.
