Bowen clan has a season to remember
MANY Welsh owners and jockeys have been enjoying a quiet few days following the climax of the 2018-19 National Hunt season.
Peter Bowen’s yard ended its season with a winner in the form of Equss Dancer, who won at Perth. This was his 64th winner of their campaign and signed off one of the stable’s best seasons for 12 years in terms of prize money earned.
Sean Bowen finished sixth in the jump jockeys’ table with 91 winners and brother James claimed 72 winners to finish in 12th spot. He was the youngest jockey on the table.
Evan Williams was the highestearning Welsh trainer of the season, winning 53 races and bagging prize money of £823,000. One horse that stands out from the Llancarfan yard is Silver Streak, who stormed home in the Welsh Champion Hurdle in Ffos Las in October, then went onto finish a gallant third in the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
On the flat, Bridgend-based trainer John Flint enjoyed a 66-1 winner in Salisbury on Thursday when Air Of York got up by half a length to win a handicap over six furlongs. The trainer is certainly in form as Carp Kid won the first race of the day at Chepstow on Friday.
Other Welsh trainers enjoying success at the meeting were David Evans, whose three-year-old Lady Reset got her head in front despite showing signs of inexperience, while Ron Harris trained the winner of the fifth race as Brother Bentley edged in front to win by just over a length, with last year’s champion apprentice Jason Watson in the saddle.
The next meeting at Ffos Las is when Madness come to town on Saturday, May 25. Tickets sales have been strong and the course is expecting its biggest attendance since the opening day in 2009.
Tickets are £40 and this includes racing as well. Hospitality packages are also available. The gates open at 3pm and the first race is off at 6.05pm. Suggs and the gang will be on stage around 9.15pm.
The following month, the track celebrates its 10th anniversary with a meeting on Thursday, June 20. Admission is £10 in advance.