By James Stevens
One of Wales’s rising stars has a huge new opportunity while on track the stars of the jumps game have started to emerge. The Racing Post’s James Stevens on the latest news.
It was a big week for Ben Jones, one of Wales’s top young prospects, as he was confirmed as stable jockey to the fast-growing Ben Pauling yard.
The Gloucestershire stable are becoming an emerging powerhouse in the jumps game and Jones partnered one of their biggest winners when Shakem Up’arry, owned by legendary footy boss Harry Redknapp, scored at the Cheltenham Festival in March.
That was a first winner at the meeting for Jones, who went agonisingly close to the breakthrough in 2020 when beaten a short-head in the Martin Pipe for old boss Philip Hobbs aboard Pileon.
Jones has been in excellent form at the start of the season, riding 17 winners so far this term with over half for Pauling.
Among the most exciting rides he can look forward to is novice chaser The Jukebox Man, who confirmed himself as a hugely talented prospect when second in the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham.
“He’s seriously good,” Pauling said of his new number one. “Ben is a natural horseman and a very well-presented and thoughtful individual who is undoubtedly going to grow into the role more and more.
“He’s not the type to come in and throw his weight around, he comes in and rides the horses and couldn’t be better really.”
One to watch
Glamorgan-based Sam Thomas unleashed an exciting prospect for the season ahead at Wincanton on Thursday as Celtic Dino scooted home by 14 lengths to tee up bigger targets.
Under Dylan Johnston, the retained rider to Welsh racing icon Dai Walters, the smart talent made it 3-4 and connections are reportedly plotting a bid for the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury in February.
He will be seen plenty before then and is definitely a horse to watch.
Great week
Sean Bowen extended his lead at the head of the jockeys’ championship thanks to a brilliant week on the track.
He is now six clear of Harry Skelton after a sparkling week. It kicked off with a winner for Brecon-based Sheila Lewis on Monday before doubles at Carlisle and Uttoxeter on Thursday and Friday.
Bowen was kept busy over the weekend too, rewarded with a wide margin win for odds-on shot Westerninthepark at Stratford on Saturday before a long trip to the north east was worth it at Sedgefield as Continuance won on his first start over hurdles by 19 lengths.
Brother James Bowen has made a brilliant start to the campaign too and was at his very best when partnering Hidden Depths to strike in a 2m5½f handicap chase at Market Rasen.
