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What Happens When A Top Welsh Jockey Is About To Fall? Another Welshman Keeps Him Up, Of Course!

What Happens When A Top Welsh Jockey Is About To Fall? Another Welshman Keeps Him Up, Of Course!

Welsh jockey James Bowen. Pic: Alamy

It was not to be in the Grand National itself, but leading Welsh jockeys and trainers were in the headlines - partly thanks to one incredible Aintree moment as The Racing Post's James Stevens reports.

Welsh jockeys came together to avoid a potential disaster in a remarkable incident over the Grand National fences this weekend as Sean Bowen could finish only 11th in his quest for a first win in the race.

The Topham, held a day before the National, is one of Aintree’s biggest races and there was drama mid-race as James Bowen flew up into the air after his mount Fantastic Lady made a mistake over four out.

Bowen had almost completely lost his balance and looked set to hit the floor before fellow Welshman Callum Pritchard, positioned alongside, stepped in to give him a nudge to regain his balance and avoid a potentially nasty fall in the 30-runner contest.

Bowen told the Racing Post: "I was nearly gone. Callum gave me a hand and I managed to drag myself back up. I don't think there were any words exchanged, no roaring and shouting anyway, but I was very grateful to him. I did appreciate it. For a split-second I thought I was gone."

Fantastic Lady had lost all chance and finished 21st while the Pritchard-ridden 66-1 shot Dreal Deal went on to claim tenth.

Sean Bowen equalled his second-best finish in the Grand National as Three Card Brag finished 11th in the world’s most famous steeplechase on Saturday.

His mount, trained in Ireland by Gordon Elliott, briefly threatened but faded from contention as Willie Mullins dominated the showpiece with Nick Rockett winning.

Bowen said after the race: “He gave me a great spin but he was just doing too much the whole way. He was jumping so well that he was just jumping into the bridle every time. Hopefully he’ll be back next year, older and wiser.”

Sensational this!!! 🙌🙌

Callum Pritchard just giving James Bowen a hand to get right after Fantastic Lady made a howler of a mistake!! ❤️

🎬 @RacingTV pic.twitter.com/Zy3jG93UQ8
— The Winners Enclosure (@TWEnclosure) April 4, 2025

There was still reason to smile on Saturday at Aintree as there was a 28-1 all-Welsh winner to kick off proceedings.

Christian Williams, who had taken the hugely popular Kittys Light to the race just 12 months earlier, caused a huge shock as the Jack Tudor-ridden Deep Cave powered home in the closing stages to take an ultra-competitive 3m½f handicap hurdle.

That big success caps off a good season for Williams who, with 26 winners, has enjoyed one of his best campaigns.

Alan Johns retires

There was an emotional farewell for the highly popular Welsh jockey Alan Johns at Ffos Las on Sunday as he ended his career with a winner in front of family and friends.

He steered the 223rd winner of his career in the aptly named DragonBet Sponsors Alan Johns Handicap Chase on Bumpy Evans and it was no smooth win for the well-named winner who made a number of errors yet still managed to win comfortably.

Johns, 35, has been stable jockey to Tim Vaughan for a number of years with their most memorable success coming with Eva’s Oskar in a £80,000 handicap at Cheltenham in 2022 before that runner gave them a contender in the Grand National later that season.

The rider has since become something of a social media sensation, producing content for Great British Racing - the marketing arm of the sport - as well as the Jockey Club. He also played a leading role in creating the widely popular promo for the Welsh Jump Jockeys Derby.

“[I’ve] still got it,” he said to the Racing Post after the win. “It was probably the most surreal 15 minutes of my life. He's a bit mad and he wanted to bolt to the start, so I got permission to go down early, but then they had a presentation lined up for me with the rest of the jockeys.

"I had 30 friends and family here cheering me on and it felt like riding a Cheltenham or a festival winner. They were five deep in the winner's enclosure!"

Johns will now look to progress his media career and has aspirations to work in television.