By James Stevens
It has been Bowen, Bowen, Bowen on the track with the jump racing family enjoying success in all corners of Britain, and against some of the sport’s biggest names…
An afternoon card at Perth could have a major bearing on who becomes champion jockey over jumps this season with Welshman Sean Bowen enjoying a big four-timer to maintain his lead in the title race.
Bowen had had a quiet few weeks by his high standards but it all changed in Scotland on Wednesday. A superb afternoon’s work was kickstarted with odds-on favourite Deploy To Spy striking in the 2m novice hurdle for Olly Murphy while Bowling Buddy won by a length to make it a double.
He went close aboard 5-1 chance Post No Bills, finishing second, but had no trouble aboard Happy Index who sauntered clear to win by six lengths. The easiest winner though was still to come as the 7-4 Limerick Leader brushed aside all challengers to win with complete ease.
A day later and it was a different story, with Bowen’s only ride beaten half-a-length and the victory was bittersweet as it was served by his two brothers. Jockey James Bowen rode Peejaybee to win Thursday’s 2m4f handicap chase from Post No Bills, running on consecutive days, and the winner was trained by the father-son combination of Peter and Michael Bowen.
More Bowen brilliance
There was a similar story in the week’s biggest jumps race at Worcester, as James, Michael and Peter Bowen not only held off a member of a family but some of the sport’s biggest names.
The Dragonbet Fixed Brush Hurdle Series Final Novices’ Handicap Hurdle at Worcester featured runners from the Willie Mullins Paul Nicholls and Dan Skelton yard chasing the £70,000 pot but it was all about Peter and Michael Bowen who trained two of the first three home.
Sean was aboard Letterston Lilly who was in contention in the straight but 3-1 favourite Flying Fortune proved too good when staying on to win by a length and a half from Ebony Warrior under James.
That success was the highlight in a quite extraordinary week for James Bowen. It kicked off with a Sedgefield double for Lambourn-based Warren Greatrex, aboard Jet Of Dreams and wide-margin winner Jaramillo, before he too was on the scoresheet on Tuesday at Warwick and Wednesday aboard Hidden Depths.
One of the most satisfactory wins came on Saturday as he guided the Bowen legend Francky Du Berlais to an eight-length win in the 2m5½f handicap chase. The 11-year-old was winning his tenth race with three of those recorded at the Lincolnshire track.It was also the place of his impressive back-to-back wins in the Summer Plate, one of the biggest jump races in the early part of the season.
Brace wins as Derby defence beckons
It was announced this week that the Welsh Jump Jockeys’ Derby was set to return for a second season and its defending champion Connor Brace flexed his muscles with an all-Welsh winner on Friday.
He scored aboard Made For You for John and Rhys Flint to continue his good start to the season. He won the 1m4f unique Flat race at Chepstow aboard Recoup last season. It was run to raise funds for children’s cancer charity Latch, which had supported the daughter of trainer Christian Williams after she was diagnosed with leukaemia.
The race will take place on Chepstow’s Jumps season opener card on October 11.
