By Paul Jones

Sean Bowen has half a dozen more opportunities to put some distance between himself and Brian Hughes at the top of the Jump Jockeys Championship at Ffos Las on Thursday.

The Welsh jockey currently leads the way, having ridden 20 winners so far this season, which runs from the start of May to the end of next April.

Hughes won the title last year with 165 winners, his third crown in four years.

Bowen has made an impressive start to his season with a strike rate of 22% and has the chance to add to his figures in six races in the seven-race card at Ffos.

He rides the Evan Williams’ trained To Be Sure in the opening race, the Fly 2 Wales Handicap Chase, a horse that won on the Carmarthenshire course in April.

Bowen then keeps it in the family when he mounts River of Joy in the AB GLass Novices Hurdle for his trainer-father, Peter.

River of Joy has only raced twice this season since coming off a year’s break and faces a challenge from another Welsh jockey-trainer combination in Designer Destiny, trained by Tim Vaughan, with Alan Johns on board.

We have 43 declared runners for our fixture this Thursday 8th June. Going is GOOD (good to firm in places). We are watering to maintain. First race 1.50pm – tickets in advance & on day. Jump season’s leading 3 jockeys are all in action @Sean_Bowen_ Brian Hughes and @CobdenHarry. pic.twitter.com/TGiq1i6FQ0

— Ffos Las Racecourse (@FfosLasRC) June 6, 2023

Bowen rides again in the third race, the JCP Solicitors Handicap Chase, on Aces Full, trained by Sean Curran.

He takes a break in the next handicap hurdle, the DWJ Wealth Management 3.26, where Welsh hopes are carried by Loved Out, trained by Evan Willians and ridden by daughter Isabel.

The Race Technologies Handicap Hurdle provides Bowen with his next opportunity on Gavin, a winner at Ffos Las just a couple of weeks ago and also earlier this at Fakenham.

Those wins were either side of a change of trainer as Gavin passed from Joe Ponting to Peter Bowen.

Evan Williams has two horses in the same race, Sydney Blues and Heronord, while Karannelle is trained by David Rees.

Coal Fire will offer a chance for more heat for Bowen’s rivals in the DW Harries Handicap, Chase, a horse that has raced three times at Ffos Las since the turn of the year, but is yet to earn a place.

The Rebecca Curtis-trained Easkey Lad also runs and is ridden by Ben Jones.

Bowen’s final opportunity is the Vickers Bet handicap Hurdle, where he rides Twilight Prince, alongside the Vaughan-trained Prison Break, Curtis’s Cumhacht, and Christian Williams’ Strictlyasoldier.

Going update for today:

Good, Good to Firm (in places)
Watering to maintain
GoingStick:7.9
Rail Movements – all bends moved out to fresh ground.
Seven races from 1.50pm – meeting supported by @SwanseaBizClub.
General admission tickets available on gate – https://t.co/wX2eGz59lH pic.twitter.com/umW2c8RNjw

— Ffos Las Racecourse (@FfosLasRC) June 8, 2023