Champion jockey Sean Bowen is leading the charge for a second consecutive National Hunt title, with aspirations that his younger brother, James Bowen, can join him in the spotlight this season. As of Wednesday, Sean has surged to the top of the jump jockeys’ championship with an impressive total of 98 winners, placing him 55 ahead of James, who sits in second place.
In an interview, Sean expressed his excitement about James’s performance this season, stating, “James is having a great season and is currently second behind me in the championship.” Sean, who clinched his first championship title in April, faced a challenging previous season due to injury, which hindered his pursuit of the title. He added, “Hopefully, we can keep it like that all season.”
The 28-year-old jockey from Pembrokeshire celebrated reaching 1,000 winners in February, showcasing his prowess in the sport. He has also praised his older brother, Mickey Bowen, who has recently taken over the family training operation from their father, Peter Bowen. Peter, who achieved 1,105 winners over jumps and amassed over £10 million in prize-money, passed his training license to Mickey in May. Mickey has made a remarkable start, securing 40 winners and currently leading the trainers’ championship with prize-money of £388,678.
Family Legacy and Future Aspirations
Sean expressed his admiration for Mickey’s quick success, saying, “I can’t quite believe how well Mickey has started. He’s been incredible.” He noted that Mickey’s early achievements this season rival the totals they reached last season. Sean emphasized, “Things just keep going from strength to strength, and he’s doing a brilliant job.” He added that Mickey has benefitted from years of learning under their father’s guidance, as well as gaining experience from visiting Willie Mullins’ training operation.
The excitement for Welsh racing continues to build as Sean prepares for the upcoming Dragonbet Welsh Racing Festival, which takes place from Friday to Sunday at Chepstow. The festival is expected to draw around 10,000 racegoers to the Monmouthshire course.
Sean highlighted the importance of promoting Welsh racing, stating, “We need to promote Welsh racing all we can, because we’ve got some brilliant trainers and brilliant jockeys and obviously some big owners now as well.” He noted the vibrant state of Welsh racing, calling the festival at Chepstow an exciting opportunity for all involved.
“I know Chepstow have done a good job promoting it all, and a few owners are telling me about the good deals they’ve done with hotels and buses and different things,” he remarked. He emphasized the festival’s significance, noting, “Even though Chepstow is in Wales, it is quite close to a lot of the jumps trainers over the border, so it’s not far for them to go, and a three-day festival is brilliant.”
As the season progresses, all eyes will be on the Bowen brothers as they strive for excellence on the racetrack, showcasing their skill and dedication to the sport.