The eyes of the racing world are firmly fixed on Wales this weekend with the highly anticipated jumps season opener taking place across three days.
For jumps fans, Friday’s card at Chepstow signals the start of the new season and there is every reason to think this could be a huge few months for Welsh racing – and this week’s blog, written by the Racing Post’s James Stevens, is dedicated to five reasons you should be getting just as excited.
1) Brilliant Bowen, part one
Where else could it possibly start than with jockey Sean Bowen who will bid to make history and become champion jockey, having finished second in a mighty title tussle with Harry Cobden last year.
The early part of the season has been promising, he was the first to reach the half-century mark although former champion Harry Skelton remains hot on his tails. Already it is proving to be a fascinating battle.
Not only expect to see him riding plenty of winners but also big ones too. He is closely connected to the Olly Murphy stable with plenty of leading prospects as well as getting opportunities for Gordon Elliott, Rebecca Curtis, Gavin Cromwell and many others.
2) Brilliant Bowen, part two
It is not all about Sean, but James has been in phenomenal form this season. His stats for September were pretty sensational with 11 winners from 26 rides and in some good races too.
His link-up with the ever-powerful Nicky Henderson stable means he can be expected to be seen across the major Saturdays. Last season he took all the top rides when Nico de Boinville was on the sidelines.
He is one of a number of leading young riders from Wales. Jack Tudor is number one at David Pipe’s famous Pond House stable where it is only a matter of time before the next superstar emerges.
Lorcan Williams is continuing to flourish and his Cheltenham Festival winner from last season, Golden Ace, is among his most exciting regular rides this season.
Ben Jones also struck at Cheltenham for the upwardly mobile Ben Pauling operation and is another to note, as well as Connor Brace who is involved at the ever-growing Fergal O’Brien yard based nearby. Add Alan Johns, Ellis Collier and Richard Patrick to that list.
3) King Kitty’s
For a brief moment, it looked as if there could be a Welsh-trained winner of the Grand National when Kitty’s Light threatened on the turn for home and he could be back for more this season.
Trained in Ogmore Castle by Christian Williams, the eight-year-old finished a gallant fifth at Aintree and still has time on his hands ahead of another attempt. He was the same age as the winner and connections have mentioned he could run in the Welsh Grand National this season.
4) Electric Evan
Wales’ top trainer Evan Williams enjoyed another fine campaign with 38 winners and he has plenty of nice talents to go to war with, in particular his unbeaten hurdler Minella Mission.
He won two races last season, the last of which when surprising at 22-1 at Cheltenham, beating the classy Captain Teague who would go on to win a Grade 1 on his next start.
Team Williams also includes Libberty Hunter, who was placed at the top-level last season and certainly looks another exciting prospect. Bumper winner Juby Ball is another one for the notebook.
5) Superb races
Wales has an abundance of talent but often its top races celebrate the best of British and Irish and it starts as early as this weekend. On Friday, the Persian War has a rich history of producing future stars with the likes of dual King George winner Silvinacio Conti among the most famous.
Head west on Sunday to find the Dragonbet Welsh Champion Hurdle which Irish runners are tending to target increasingly. It is another race with a fascinating list of winners including The New One, Oscar Whiskey and Welsh legend Silver Streak.
While the Welsh tracks are also good places to spot starts of the future, with Altior’s world-record winning run over hurdles starting at Chepstow, the pinnacle comes in December. That is the Welsh Grand National, which is also one of the National Hunt highlights of the whole season. The stamina-sapping test is always ferociously competitive and the epitome of what makes jump racing great.
