Jockey Connor Brace has a chance to continue his winning form at Aintree on Friday night at the expense of Welsh rival Sean Bowen.
Brace was a winner at Uttoxeter last week when he rode Ajp Kingdom in a novices hurdle and will bid to back that up on Blaze a Trail in the RacingTV.com Handicap Chase at 8.10pm.
Bowen will ride Lermoos Legend – one of four chances he has to add to his rich form and strengthen his position at the top of the Jump Jockeys Championship.
Brace – the 21-year-old grandson of race horse owner, trainer and businessman David Brace – is the latest young Welsh jockey to make a big impression, having learned to ride at Dunraven Stud at Pyle near Bridgend.
“Harry Cobden spent time with us, the Bowen brothers, Sean and James came here, Christian Williams came here, Jack Tudor, Ben Jones – it’s been wonderful to see and I get a big buzz out of that. When one of them wins, it’s fantastic,” says David.
“I think Welsh racing is very buoyant at the moment. We have some great trainers like Evan Williams, Christian Williams, Tim Vaughan, Sam Thomas and obviously, Peter Bowen.
“We also have some great young Welsh jockeys. Years ago, if you didn’t have an Irish accent, they thought you couldn’t ride!”
Bowen, though, has chalked up 10 winners in the last 14 days and Lermoos Legend was second at Cartmel last time out and should see off Blaze A Trail and Blueberry Wine.
There is another meeting over the jumps at Fontwell on Friday as well as flat meetings at Chepstow, Sandown, York and Goodwood.
