Bowen Brothers Star At Punchestown And Achievements Have Even Got Politicians Talking

The pressure was on but James Bowen delivered a Grade 1 success at Punchestown as Lulamba reversed Cheltenham Festival form to win the Champion Four-Year-Old Hurdle.

It was one of the biggest weeks in Bowen's career as he stepped in as number one to six-time champion trainer Nicky Henderson with stable jockey Nico de Boinville sidelined. 

James had not been expecting to ride and booked a stag do for his recently crowned champion brother, Sean, in Tenerife. 

Yet Constitution Hill came calling and he was not going to miss the opportunity of a lifetime, even if the outstanding 2023 Champion Hurdle hero failed to fire in a disappointing spring campaign which included falls at Cheltenham and Aintree.

His old foe, State Man, prevailed in Friday's Boodles Champion Hurdle, but there was still one Welshman smiling as Lorcan Williams got up for second aboard Golden Ace to complete a marvellous season for the Cheltenham Champion Hurdle winner.

While James Bowen could not do much on Friday, he enjoyed a brilliant Saturday with a fine ride on the 11-10 favourite, Lulamba, to thrash 125-1 Triumph Hurdle winner Poniros by four lengths. 

That was his second win at racing's top level and also his second at Punchestown as he advertised just why many expect him to take over as Henderson's next number one with a well-timed ride on Jeriko Du Reponet in the big 2m7½f handicap hurdle.

If that was not impressive enough, he is one from one in Britain in the new season after winning on Land Of Moon on Monday.

READ MORE: James Bowen . . . The Welsh Teenager Coming Up On The Rails To Challenge Racing’s Elite

High praise for new champion

There were no ill effects of a Spanish stag do for Sean Bowen, who won a 22-runner handicap on his first ride since being crowned champion - at Punchestown - on Putapoundinthejar.

Bowen has become a bit of a go-to man for several Irish trainers in the last few seasons and got the call from Tony Martin for the well-fancied runner in the 2m½f handicap hurdle. 
He delivered one of the rides of the week to get up by half a length.

As the Irish season came to a close it completed quite the season for Sean Bowen, with success in the Irish Grand National as well as Punchestown.

Yet the plaudits for his first domestic championship continue to pour in as his achievements were celebrated in the Senedd this week.

MS Llyr Gruffydd, who chairs a cross-party group for horse racing in the Senedd, spoke about the achievements of the Pembrokeshire rider.

He discussed all of Bowen's landmarks including a Ffos Las five-timer, and 1,000th winner and praised a "golden generation for Welsh horse racing" with four of the top ten jump jockeys from Wales.

Gruffydd  added: "We have four Welsh jump jockeys in the top 10, a raft of established and up-and-coming Welsh trainers as well as successful Welsh racecourses at Chepstow, Ffos Las and Bangor-on-Dee proving that Wales really is firmly on the horseracing map!"

Bowen is already up and running for 2025 after Salley Gardens gave him a first winner of the new campaign at Uttoxeter on Saturday.

READ MORE: Sean Bowen . . . The Story Of The Pembrokeshire Boy Who Became A Welsh Racing Giant

Classic chance for Probert 

It is Chester's May festival this week and the highlight race across the three days is the Chester Cup, where adopted Welshman Daniel Muscutt has a great chance on Wonder Legend.

His ride, who is trained in Newmarket by James Ferguson, is the 5-1 joint-favourite with Welsh bookmaker DragonBet to land the £150,000 staying handicap.

Muscutt has been integral in his winning run and was aboard when he posted a mightily impressive win at Newcastle on Good Friday. 

Connections also have bigger targets in mind after they entered the five-year-old in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot.
A good run could seal his place in one of the landmark races of the season.

Elsewhere, Welshman David Probert has a big ride in the Cheshire Oaks, a race which kickstarted the career of Enable just a few years ago.

She went on to win two Arcs after winning the Cheshire Oaks and, while Longchamp is a long way away, Probert rides Secret Of Love, who is among the leading fancies for Wednesday's race.

The Andrew Balding-trained runner does not have an Oaks entry, but is in the Irish Oaks and looks to prove she is good enough for the top races in the key Classic trial.

Wales's incredible jump season: Al Dancer and Callum Pritchard
Each week we will be counting down my five best moments of the jump season. First on the list is a feel-good all-Welsh winner from November.

It was an upset, a fitting farewell to an old favourite, a magic ride from a breakthrough jockey and featured a popular grey - who can knock the brilliant Al Dancer?

This wonderful grey has been around forever but in one of the early-season big Saturday handicaps he bowed out in style with an incredible ten-length romp in Wincanton's Badger Beer Handicap Chase.

The win encapsulates some of the best attributes of his all-Welsh team. 

READ MORE: Chelsea Dream Turns Into Champion Jockey Reality For Sean Bowen

Trainer Sam Thomas got him completely primed to win a huge pot at the age 11, his owner Dai Walters had kept with him throughout his seven-year career, while 7lb claimer Callum Pritchard delivered a foot-perfect front-running ride.

While this was another reminder of how Cardiff-based Thomas rolls out big winners, Pritchard announced himself in extraordinary style. 

He had ridden just his second winner only days before but top trainers were jostling for his services as he completed the season as the country's second winningmost jockey.

Thomas, who had ridden Denman to win the Gold Cup, said he received more messages from this success than in his jockey days. 

He also was instrumental in raising the spirits of his trainer and owner when he won at Aintree just days after they survived a helicopter crash.

Al Dancer had, fittingly, danced every dance having won Britain's richest hurdle race, scored twice at Cheltenham and won over the Grand National fences. 

He is now enjoying retirement after his sensational send off.