By David Williams
Sean Bowen secured his 100th win of the season on board Dominic’s Fault at Lingfield on Monday – and is confident he can further strengthen his position at the top of the Jump Jockeys’ Championship.
The Championship runs from 4th May 2024 to 26th April 2025 and is based on the amount of winners jockeys ride over the course of the season.
Welsh star Bowen has reached the century milestone to cement his position as the front-runner in the highly competitive Jockeys’ Championship race — a title he has yet to win.
The landmark comes on the back of Bowen’s 30 wins in November, which was the most the Pembrokeshire rider has recorded in any month of any season.
Bowen said: “This season has gone very well, and I am really pleased to be reaching 100 this week, a few weeks behind last year.
“The last month has been incredible. I had 30 winners which is the most I’ve had in any month, so hopefully that can continue.
“My brother and dad have been big supporters of mine and obviously Olly Murphy supports me with a lot of winners, but I also ride a lot for Martin Keighley.
“I have a very good agent in Alain Cawley who finds me a lot of outside rides, and I have had a lot of outside winners all season, so he does a very good job.
“In the weighing room, my brother James supports me as much as he can.
“It is a long way from now until the end of the season, so anything could happen, but hopefully I’ll still be leading the Championship then.
After a tightly contested battle in last year’s Championship, where he narrowly missed out to Harry Cobden, Bowen will be determined to stay on top this season.
His strong performances, which have included the G2 Long Distance Hurdle, have put him ahead of rivals such as Harry Skelton, the second favourite for the championship.
Currently chasing Bowen is the 2020/21 Champion Jump Jockey, Skelton, who sits just five winners behind.
“Outside of the Championship race, I haven’t ridden a winner at the Cheltenham Festival so I would love to do that,” added Bowen.
“But I also love Aintree, and I have had great success there in the past, so I am really looking forward to that meeting coming round next year.”
The 27-year-old burst onto the scene during the 2014/15 season, claiming the Conditional Jockeys’ Championship in the process.
He remains the youngest person ever to achieve that title.
Riding for several of the country’s most prominent trainers, he has secured numerous notable victories in recent years.
Bowen’s partnership with Warwickshire-based trainer Olly Murphy has been a cornerstone of his success this season and in previous campaigns.
In addition to Murphy, he continues to ride for his father, Peter Bowen and both trainers proved instrumental in his achievements last season.
Bowen finished second in the Championship in 2022/23 with an impressive 157 winners, including two Grade One (the highest ranked races) victories.
This season, he has ridden winners for the likes of Keighley, Tom Gretton, Warren Greatrex, Gordon Elliott, and Jim & Suzi Best, among others.
When asked about his rivals, and weighing room colleagues in the race to become champion, Bowen added: “My biggest rival this year in the Championship would be Harry Skelton.
“He is giving it a good go along with his brother Dan Skelton, who is also aiming for the Trainer’s Championship, so he is the main rival.”
But the Jump Jockey Championship isn’t the only competition to be won this season.
The David Power Jockeys’ Cup (DPJC) is a newly introduced competition for jump jockeys participating in British jump races broadcast on ITV Racing during the core period of the 2024-25 season.
It offers a substantial £500,000 top prize for the leading jockey, with £200,000 for second place, £100,000 for third, and rewards extending through the top ten positions.
Sean Bowen, currently a leading contender in the DPJC, added: “I’d take the £500,000 over being Champion Jockey, but I’ll give it a go.
“We’re all very competitive and the minute jockeys heard about it we all talked about winning the main prize.”
The Jump Jockeys’ Championship ends on Saturday 26th April at Sandown.
Additionally, trainers, racing staff, and the two leading conditional jockeys have dedicated prizes, ensuring comprehensive involvement across the racing community.
