Another Saturday and another big-race winner for Pembrokeshire jockey James
Bowen (photographed) who triumphed on Jonbon in an enthralling Clarence House Chase at Ascot.
Seven days previously, Bowen had struck on Iberico Lord in the Lanzarote Hurdle for
Nicky Henderson and JP McManus, the trainer and owner of Jonbon.
It had looked like the jockey would not partner the gelding because news emerged
last week McManus was going to employ Harry Cobden as his retained rider for next
season. He therefore was due to take the mount, but was injured at Ascot in an earlier race, so connections turned to Bowen, who made no mistake.
An error at the eighth fence meant the ten-year-old lost ground and he was
outpaced, but rallied and was able to draw away from Thistle Ask to win by three
lengths with 2-5 favourite Il Etait Temps falling two out.
The success was particularly sweet for Bowen, who was second on Jonbon in the
Clarence House when it was run at Cheltenham two years ago. “I couldn't do anything wrong at the time, but I was brought back down to earth fairly sharply,” he said of that day. “Sport is the biggest leveller and that's the lowest I've ever been but to get redemption is great."
Of Saturday’s race, he went on: "I felt beat three out but I was able to go through the
motions on him without forcing him too much, and by the time I jumped two out I was
then back in with a shout. He's got such a will to win and I knew by the time I got to
the last he'd get on top."
Cardiff trainer Sam Thomas was also beaming at Ascot, where he saddled two
winners. First up was Vincenzo, who had been second in two major prizes at Cheltenham this season but got his head in front in the 2m5f handicap chase.
While he was the 6-4 favourite, Whiskey Yankee went off at 14-1 for the 2m5½f
novice hurdle and defied those odds to complete the double for Thomas and jockey
Dylan Johnston.
At Wolverhampton on Friday, Grace Harris, who trains close to Chepstow in
Shirenewton, sent out her first winner of 2026 as Ice Opera pounced in the 1m4f
classified stakes. Harris had her best season on the flat last year, sending out 18 winners and will be keen to match that this term.
Thomas Faulkner, who is based in Monmouthshire, also had a productive time of
things last year and V Power struck for him at Wolverhampton last week. The six-year-old was ridden by Zoe Lewis and had not won in 15 starts, which perhaps explained why he was an 18-1 chance. However, after racing prominently he was brave to prevail by a neck, Faulkner telling stewards a 167-day break from running had helped V Power.
Racing returns at Chepstow on Tuesday 27th January with seven races, starting a1pm, are programmed, while Ffos Las is scheduled to race a week on Friday (30th January).
