Ben Jones (photographed) went agonisingly close on Saturday to ending Wales’s long wait for an Aintree Grand National win.
Not since Carl Llewellyn rode Earth Summit to victory in the mud in 1998 has Wales tasted success in the Aintree spectacular. But Jones went ever so close.
The Welsh jockey sent Jordans for home rounding the final turn in the big race and the pair scooted six lengths clear of the chasing pack. They were still in front jumping the last fence, but his seven-year-old partner tired on the long run-in and he was eventually collared by I Am Maximus, who powered home to regain the National crown he first won in 2024.
Jordans eventually missed out on second, with Iroko finishing strongly to give owner JP McManus a memorable 1-2,
James Bowen must also have been harbouring thoughts of National glory when he led the field for much of the contest on 66-1 outsider High Class Hero. But he faded in the final furlong to finish a creditable fifth.
Sean Bowen may have missed out on big-race success – his mount Haiti Couleurs could not back up his wins in the Irish and Welsh Nationals as he finished a well-beaten 14th – but he still ended the weekend on a high.
Bowen, who will be crowned champion jockey for the second time at Sandown next week, was back in the winner’s enclosure as Ffos Las staged its Family Fun Day on Sunday.
And his success on Doujadou in a maiden hurdle was all the sweeter as it was his 100th success at the Carmarthenshire track.
It was somewhat fitting as the promising six-year-old is trained by long-time ally Rebecca Curtis and runs in the same colours as Haiti Couleurs, who has provided Bowen with some of his most memorable moments on a racecourse.
The 28-year-old recorded his first win at the Gwendraeth Valley venue in June 2014 when he partnered Tough Talking Man to victory for his father Peter. He may not have added to his century during the remainder of Sunday’s card, but he could well be on the scoresheet again before the term is out as Ffos Las stages its final jumps meeting of the season on Tuesday, April 21. He rode five winners at the corresponding fixture in 2025.
Brother James was also on the mark at Ffos Las as he came from off the pace to win a two-and-a-half mile handicap hurdle on warm favourite Thewoodcorner, whose trainer Nicky Henderson was extending his excellent course record.
Curtis doubled up at her local track as Bridget Mary was one of only two finishers in a three-mile chase. She won by 89 lengths under Ben Jones, who was quickly putting his Grand National disappointment behind him. It was Ben’s 100thwinner of the season.
And there was success for Brecon trainer Sheila Lewis, who took a handicap chase with L’Empire Vert in the hands of Porth-born Callum Pritchard.
