THE Welsh were in red-hot form on the only Saturday jumps meeting to beat the big freeze.
Sean Bowen had high hopes of further extending his considerable lead at the top of the jockeys’ table ahead of the weekend, but once Warwick’s meeting fell victim to the elements, it was his brother James who happily stepped into the spotlight at Kempton Park.
The younger Bowen, deputising for the sidelined Nico de Boinville, landed the £100,000 Lanzarote Hurdle on Iberico Lord.
Nicky Henderson’s inmate had lost his way somewhat after being touted as a Champion Hurdle dark horse a couple of winters ago, but upped in trip here he rekindled some of his old spark to run out a comfortable winner at odds of 22-1.
It would be no surprise to see him return to the Festival in March, with the Coral Cup possibly on his agenda.
It was the second time Bowen has triumphed in this prestigious handicap. He first thrust himself into the limelight by winning it eight years ago on William Henry in the colours of owner Dai Walters.
Christian Williams has his string in fine form and he took the concluding two-mile handicap hurdle with Williethebuilder.
The seven-year-old was a winner over course and distance at Kempton’s Christmas meeting, and he made no mistake on his bid for a quickfire double, making light of an eight-pound rise in the weights to seal a comfortable two-and-a-half length success.
Williams, no stranger to landing big handicaps, has entered Williethebuilder in Newbury’s William Hill Hurdle next month.
Meanwhile, high-class horses destined for bright futures helped light up a wet midweek meeting at Ffos Las.
Last week’s fixture was arranged at short notice amid the big freeze, which had wiped out a string of meetings elsewhere across the country.
And trainers took full advantage of the additional fixture, with the yards of Dan Skelton and Nicky Henderson having runners as well as the Welsh stables of Evan Williams, Mickey Bowen and Debra Hamer, who have enjoyed so much success at the Carmarthenshire venue down the years.
It was Skelton who may have boasted the star of the show, with his promising Bossman Jack landing the opening novices’ hurdle.
He was sent off the 10-11 favourite despite the presence in the field of the equally promising Starzand, bought for a cool £230,000 in the sales last January and bidding for a hat-trick of wins at Ffos Las.
Starzand set out to make all the running in the two-mile contest as he looked to make full use of his stamina, but he just failed to give away 7lb to Bossman Jack, who overhauled his rival on the run-in to score comfortably.
The Bowens were on the mark with Pour Les Filles in a novice’s handicap chase. Trained by Mickey and ridden by Sean, he was the outsider of four but eased home by 15 lengths.
The next meeting at Ffos Las is on Friday, January 30.
