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- The Honeymoon Is Over . . . Wedding Bells Turns To Family Showdown For The Rival Bowens In £, Saturday Race
One of Wales’ most famous racing families celebrated the wedding of champion jockey Sean Bowen last Friday.
But just eight days later he and his two brothers are set to become rivals in a race which means everything in the household.
No trainer has been more successful in the Summer Plate than Peter Bowen, as the father of Sean, James and Mickey has won the biggest race of the early jumps season eight times.
It will not be nine, however, after he retired at the start of this season and son Mickey took over.
He now looks to continue the family legacy at Market Rasen on Saturday - but in doing so has to beat his two brothers.
The Haverfordwest yard are to field two runners in Statuario and Courtland, but James is to ride for his boss Nicky Henderson, aboard Bhaloo, while Sean will be on reigning champion Sure Touch, for his biggest backer, Olly Murphy.
Mickey Bowen may be the more eager of the three to win in Lincolnshire as his two brothers have already tasted success, with the scores 2-1 in favour of James.
“Pressure is for tyres” was the response given by the rookie trainer when asked about the Summer Plate-shaped hole in his CV.
He was just a toddler when his father’s dominance at the Lincolnshire track’s biggest race started in 1997.
READ MORE: Champion Jockey Nears Milestone As A Chance To Join The Greats Becomes More Likely
He told the Jockey Club of his chances: “Statuario seems as good as ever. He was only beaten five lengths in the race last year off 135 and this year he is five pounds lower.
“He’s a very good horse and he would have a right chance with conditions looking right for him.
“Courtland had an injury but we’ve been gearing him up for this since. He was second two years ago.”
Bowen will call on fellow Welshman Adam Wedge to ride Statuario while Shane Fenelon gets the ride on Courtland.
Probert flying
Welsh jockey David Probert was the star of the show as thousands flooded to Ascot on Saturday, riding one of his biggest winners aboard Never So Brave.
On a scorching Saturday, the Bargoed-born rider was ice cool.
Outsider Point Lynas charged 10 lengths clear turning into the straight, but Probert did not panic and timed his challenge to perfection as the 11-8 shot burst into the lead just before the post to win by three quarters of a length.
That success is a 12th at Group 2 level for Probert as he waits for a breakthrough at the highest level.
Yet he continues to prove his talent as Never So Brave was not his only weekend winner, he secured a double for boss Andrew Balding on Mount Atlas. It came just days after a 162-1 treble at Ffos Las in the week.
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He has had six winners already in July at a sizzling strike-rate of 32 per cent in the summer and will continue to attract the interest of top trainers with meetings like Glorious Goodwood and Ebor Festival on the horizon.
Delight for Williams
The best news was saved until Monday after trainer Christian Williams shared a video on social media of his daughter Betsy ringing the bell after treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.
Betsy’s story has been closely followed within racing, in particular in Wales, and the Williams family helped raise over £100,000 in fundraising for Welsh children’s cancer charity Latch with events such as a rounders tournament and a jump jockeys’ Derby at Chepstow.
Kitty’s Light provided the Williams family with a boost during the tough times, doing an incredible double in the Scottish Grand National and bet365 Gold Cup within seven days.
He also ran in the Grand National at Aintree in 2024 for the family, finishing fifth.
