Sean Bowen’s relentless march to a second jockeys’ championship is showing no signs of slowing down whatsoever, and the rider has drawn comparisons with the legendary Sir Anthony McCoy.
McCoy was the champion a record 20 times and dominated the sport like no other.
In 2001-02, he rode 289 winners, eclipsing the 269 set by Sir Gordon Richards on the flat in 1947, while no jockey in either code has come close to McCoy’s 4,348 in Britain and Ireland.
While those numbers might be hard for Bowen to reach, he is riding with ferocious enthusiasm and determination.
At the start of play yesterday morning, he had recorded 118 winners, putting him 69 clear of his younger brother James.
That tally of 118 is already more than all bar one of his rivals rode in the whole of last season, so it is no wonder he has all but sealed a second title, earning those McCoy comparisons in the process.
A recent run of ten winners from 12 rides led him nicely into Cheltenham’s first meeting of the autumn on Friday, when he landed the novice chase on the Olly Murphy-trained Alnilam.
Murphy’s fine form has helped Bowen, who said: “I’d love to beat McCoy’s records. McCoy was 20-times champion. I’m 28, so I’m not sure I’ll beat that record, but it would be nice to be riding his sort of numbers, and hopefully I can start doing that.
“I’m improving. Things have gotten better and better, but I am riding for good people now. Obviously, the main stable is Olly, but I’ve ridden so many winners for James Owen, my brother Mickey couldn’t have had a better start to his training career, and I ride winners for Martin Keighley as well. I ride winners for so many people and I’m very, very lucky.”
Bowen registered 180 winners last term and is even-money with Paddy Power to ride 225 or more this season.
The firm make him a 4-1 chance to partner 250 or more, and he is 20-1 to overtake McCoy’s record of 289.
One horse who could help him hit those totals is Off The Jury, who was sold after racing at Cheltenham on Friday evening.
He cost £250,000 and will be trained by Bowen’s brother Mickey in Pembrokeshire.
“We really wanted this lad and are so glad we got him,” Mickey Bowen said. “We’ve so many options for him, we could go for a maiden hurdle, but he’s going to be a chaser in time, and we’re over the moon to get him.
“Horses like him don’t come up for sale very often, so I think he’ll be worth every penny.”
Stratagem, which cost £30,000, and £75,000 purchase Queensbury Boy were also bought by the trainer, who added of the latter: “If he hadn’t run the other day and disappointed, he’d have been £300,000. For £75,000, we had to take a chance because he’s got so much ability and we’re excited to have him.”
Carmarthenshire native Ben Jones was also among the winners at Cheltenham thanks to French Ship, who was on top in Friday’s 2m4f handicap hurdle, while Vale of Glamorgan trainer Evan Williams was on the mark at Ludlow on Thursday with D'Jo Dela Barriere.
His training counterpart, Sam Thomas, who is based near Cardiff, had a winner to celebrate too as Doctor Kildare, owned by Ffos Las founder Dai Walters, was successful at Bangor on Monday.
Chepstow is back in action a week today with a six-race jumps card that starts at 1.30 pm.
It is the track’s military raceday, and military personnel can gain free entry with a valid ID, while the course is also open on Saturday for a fireworks night that begins at 4 pm.
The next fixture at Ffos Las, which was raced yesterday, takes place a week on Sunday.
