Bowen setting a furious pace at the summit

SEAN Bowen is now four winners clear at the top of the jump jockeys’ championship after a treble at Perth on Sunday – all for trainer Gordon Elliott.

The partnership is yielding plenty of winners this summer and helping Bowen build a solid base ahead of the more competitive winter campaign.

At the time of writing Bowen has 38 winners, with reigning champion Brian Hughes on 34.

Chepstow’s Paloma Faith meeting on Friday drew a lively crowd of around 7,500 on a warm evening. Only one of the seven races was won by the favourite, but as none of the winners started at longer than 5-1 there were plenty of opportunities to collect from the bookmakers.

Grace Harris provided the only Welshtrained winner of the night, Connie’s Rose, who led virtually throughout a seven-furlong handicap. She was a little fortunate, because Atlantic Heart was catching her fast.

Last time out she had finished a close sixth behind Rhubarb, who at 7-2 was a popular choice for the second race. She duly won for the third time this year at Chepstow.

Stockpyle, the winner of the apprentice jockeys’ handicap, runs in the colours of the Cardiff-based La Pyle Partnership who own Pyledriver, the Group 1 globetrotter.

Trained by William Muir and Chris Grassick in Lambourn, Pyledriver won last year’s Coronation Cup and after injury problems was successful in a smaller race at Lingfield before finishing second in the Hong Kong Vase. Since then he has run in Saudi Arabia and finished fourth in Dubai’s Sheema Classic. Frankie Dettori rode him at Epsom in this year’s Coronation Cup, but Pyledriver was not quite on top form and came second. The King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on Saturday week is his next target, and nearer the end of the season he is entered in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

Stockpyle, a half-brother to Pyledriver, is not in that league. However, having broken his duck at Chepstow, he can go on to better things.

Our next fixture at Ffos Las is on Monday, July 25. It’s an evening meeting starting at 6.20pm with tickets two for £20 if you book in advance.

Tickets are also available on the night. There’s a great value dinner package in Bridles Restaurant for £49 per person including a two-course meal, admission and a racecard.