Chepstow came alive at the weekend when the racecourse hosted the inaugural DragonBet Welsh Racing Festival - and it was champion jockey Sean Bowen who again stole the show by riding four winners.
From Pembrokeshire, Bowen has enjoyed a sublime summer in which he has built up a sizeable lead in his bid to be champion for the second time this season. He was always likely to be among the winners as the track staged racing on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
The meeting, increased to three days from two, is considered the starting point of the core jumps season, and a number of big-name trainers were represented.
They included Paul Nicholls, Nicky Henderson, and Dan Skelton, but it was Olly Murphy-Bowen’s biggest backer and an emerging player on the main stage, who landed the fixture’s most valuable races.
First up on Friday was new recruit Sticktotheplan (photographed), who created a fine impression in the Grade 2 Dragonbet Persian War Novices’ Hurdle.
A race that can set horses on their way to stardom - Silviniaco Conti landed it in 2010 before going on to capture a brace of King Georges - the Persian War was worth £80,000 and a chunk of that was bagged by Sticktotheplan, who came home strongly under Bowen to win by four lengths.
Crowds were healthy for all three afternoons at Chepstow, which was not lost on the talented rider, a pal of punters on track and those watching on.
“I really enjoyed that,” he said. “I didn’t realise how many people were here until that winner. It’s been a brilliant festival and hopefully it’ll continue to grow. It’s my second win in the race, but it’s great to have a first big winner of the season.”
Murphy was also thrilled, saying, “I didn’t know if I was doing the right thing running him, but I did. It will be interesting to see what the handicapper does, but he was bought only eight or so weeks ago, and this race was the plan. We didn’t leave a stone unturned, and he was ready for today, but he might not want deep winter ground, so we’ll probably keep him to nicer conditions. He had a penalty, so I’m sure it will work out solid form.”
The £75,000 Wasdell Group Silver Trophy was the highlight of Saturday’s card, and Murphy and Bowen were to the fore once more with 12-1 chance Rambo T. “I thought he was handicapped out of it,” Murphy added. “It just shows that you should
run them and, with a good ride, they don’t need to be the best handicapped. I’m not shocked often, but I am after that – I didn’t think he’d win.”
Ammes and Speculatrix were the other winners at Chepstow for Bowen, who did not ride in Sunday’s feature, the DragonBet Welsh Champion Hurdle that went to Celtic Dino. He was trained near Cardiff by Sam Thomas for Dai Walters, the founder of Ffos Las.
