Sean Bowen is living proof that the life of a top jockey is about stamina, staying power and the ability to travel well.
The Welsh rider is top of the Jump Jockeys Championship and will put that status to the test on Wednesday at Newton Abbot, where he goes in six races.
Bowen was at Southwell in Nottinghamshire on Monday, he was up in Scotland racing at Perth on Sunday, and he’ll have clocked up plenty more miles once he arrives in time for the first race down in Devon.
But needs must when you are chasing winners and Bowen has managed 28 since the opening day in May and will be confident of adding to that tally at Newton Abbot.
He starts on the Warren Greatrex-trained Heneryetta Bay in the 2.00pm novices handicap, a step up in distance to 3 miles for the 7-year-old, where the most likely threat will come from Tommydan.
Things appear more challenging for Bowen in the 2.30 Talk Tidy Marketing Mares’ Handicap Hurdle where he rides Tibbie Dunbar, who only has one win over hurdles back in January at Kempton.
Magical Maggie looks to have the strongest claims with five wins from her last nine starts, including last time out at Cartmel three weeks ago.
Bowen teams up with father and trainer Peter for the 3.05pm novices’ hurdle, where he will be on board Jacktot, who runs for only the second time.
A more likely victory could come in the Peninsula Finance PLC Handicap Chase at 3.40pm, where Bowen rides Noahthirtytwored.
The horse was a faller at Southwell recently, but recovered to finish fourth last time out at Lingfield and is a four-time winner over hurdles in nine outings.
Bowen will face opposition from fellow Wales-based jockey Adam Wedge, who rides Clear The Runway, who runs for the first time since October but had good form beforehand.
The Sky Sports Racing Sky 415 Handicap Chase at 4.10 will see Bowen on Duke of Luckley, a winner at Catterick and Southwell for the jockey back in November.
Bowen takes a break in the sixth race of the day, the 4.40pm handicap hurdle, but returns for the final race, the 5.10pm NewtonAbbotRacing.com Open National Hunt Flat Race to saddle Buck of Maine, trainer by father, Peter.
Welsh trainer Christian Williams – who had a winner with Tonto Foley at Southwell on Monday – has two runners, Petrograd and Prelinsia.
There are also flat race meetings on Wednesday at Yarmouth Haydock, Kempton and Hamilton.
