‘Proud moment’ in store for Peter Bowen on Saturday

Peter Bowen has hailed son Sean Bowen’s “terrific attitude” ahead of what he says will be a proud day for the whole family at Sandown on Saturday.

A year on from finishing second in the jockeys’ standings – and 10 years after being champion conditional – the 27-year-old will be crowned champion jockey for the first time, a victory made all the sweeter after injury saw him surrender a hefty lead to Harry Cobden 12 months ago.

“It will be a proud moment for the whole family and it is what Sean has always dreamed of, so it is fantastic he has gone and done it now,” said Peter Bowen.

“It’s great he’s won it this year as last year was soul destroying, being plenty clear and then having his injury and in the end he only lost out by five or six. The season he’s had has been fantastic.

“He’s been champion in all codes now – he was champion pony racing, champion novice rider in point-to-points, champion conditional and now champion jockey. God willing, we’ll all be there on Saturday.”

Explaining just what he thinks has been critical to his son amassing an unassailable lead in the title race, Bowen expanded: “He’s a very good judge of pace for a start, and he doesn’t mind going anywhere to ride a horse.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s a 100-1 shot or if he has to go to Perth to ride one, he will still go and do it – he has a terrific attitude towards the job.”

Sean Bowen has rattled up over 170 winners in his charge for the title, but his father also gave a nod to the champion elect’s younger brother, James, who himself has found the scoresheet over 80 times and is credited with driving his sibling on.

Bowen added: “Both of the boys are extremely fit and if they are not riding they will be in the gym or running five or 10 miles – they’ve both had great seasons.

“They never stop working at it and they bounce off each other and always discuss their rides and work as a sort of a team.”

And after failing to make it to Ireland to watch his eldest son win the Irish Grand National aboard Rebecca Curtis’ Haiti Couleurs on Easter Monday, Bowen is planning a trip to Punchestown after it emerged James Bowen is in line to partner Constitution Hill in the Boodles Champion Hurdle on May 2.

“All being well for James with Constitution Hill – and he’s got a piece of work to do on Friday and some schooling this weekend, I think – he’s hopefully going over to Punchestown and I would definitely go over to watch that,” continued Bowen.

“I should have gone to watch the Irish National on Monday, but I never got round to going, that was a massive day.”