Wales can claim a share of the glory of Sean Dylan Bowen’s achievement in becoming champion flat apprentice. Though generally regarded as Irish, his father Ian is a proud Carmarthenshire man. The nineteen-year-old began his riding career in Ireland and accumulated a huge amount of experience at the all-weather Dundalk track. He rode 29 winners before a barren spell during the winter prompted him to come to Britain in search of more and better opportunities. He won on his second ride here, at the Lincoln meeting, and his year blossomed from that point.
Bowen rode 45 winners in the period the flat jockeys’ championships cover, from the Guineas to Champions Day, finishing three ahead of Joe Leavy in a tussle that went to the very last day. His total was belatedly increased by the whip-related disqualification of Alphonse Le Grande in the Cesarewitch, which meant his mount Manxman was promoted to first place.
Sean D is no relation to the other Sean Bowen, who was in action at Stratford on Saturday. He won on Westerninthepark, who was having his first run for Olly Murphy and was sent off odds-on for his fencing debut. Fourth going into the final bend, Bowen was determined to stay on the inside and exploited a small gap, and after getting through that made his challenge coming between the two leaders. He drew right away on the run-in to score by 14 lengths. Stablemate Continuance extended Bowen’s advantage in the jump jockeys’ title race to six by winning a juvenile hurdle at Sedgefield on Sunday.
That Stratford meeting also saw James Davies, who was off most of August and September, resume his successful start to the season. In the spring he rode nine winners, as many as he did in the whole of the 2023/24 campaign. This was on another chasing debutant, the Nick Gifford-trained Aworkinprogress. Carrying the J P McManus colours, he had won last time out in March and he showed no signs of rustiness after his break. He should live up to his name and progress further.
Another winner for Davies came at Plumpton on Monday with River Tyne. Her lead was shrinking on the uphill run-in as James Bowen challenged on Hobb’s Delight, but Davies got his mount home by the minimum margin. It was highly appropriate that Nick Gifford should train the winner of this race, the Aldaniti Partnership Handicap Chase, his father Josh having saddled Aldaniti to triumph in the memorable Grand National of 1981. Between them James and his father Hywel have ridden for the stable in five decades.
Lorcan Williams (photographed) was on the scoresheet at Plumpton too, riding Touquet for Paul Nicholls. Some of the yard’s horses are needing a run before reaching peak fitness, but this one won decisively after a 261-day break. This was his hurdling debut and despite being hooded he was exuberant before and during the race, and yet he still had plenty in hand at the finish.
On a misty Saturday night at Wolverhampton Grace Harris trained a Gavin Cromwell cast-off, Saffredi, to gain his first victory on his third start for the yard. At Monday’s meeting there Robert Stephens’ Port Noir won for the second time in a week. As before, he was slowly away and did no more than he had to at the business end of the race. It was the stable stalwart’s sixth course success and his first over nine and a half furlongs, and his 24th outing of the year. Stephens’ record in the last fortnight is now 1211.
Racing returns to Chepstow next Tuesday, the 29th, when there is sure to be some promising types from big yards entered in the novice and maiden events. The same can be said of Bangor, who also race that afternoon. Ffos Las fans have to wait until Sunday 10 November for their next meeting.
