Bowen wins Welsh racing award for sixth time

Sean Bowen has won the National Hunt Jockey of the Year award for the sixth time, with the jockey hailing the quality of Welsh racing as he celebrated alongside his family at Chepstow Racecourse.

Bowen was among the main award winners at Thursday's Welsh Horse Racing Awards, where his brother James and parents Peter and Karen were also recognised for their contributions to the sport.

The 28-year-old, the current two-time champion jockey, said he felt fortunate to have received the award on multiple occasions, pointing to the strength of the sport's participants in Wales.

"The quality in Welsh racing's actually very, very high at the minute in jockeys, trainers and owners," said Bowen.

"I'm quite lucky to have won it for a sixth time. So, it's good,"

Bowen also highlighted the support he has received from trainers and owners throughout his career, including his parents, who were prominent figures in Welsh racing before retiring from training.

"I've had incredible support from a lot of people in that room," he added.

"Obviously, mum and dad being the head of all that and then a lot of owners have come and joined us tonight.

"I've ridden winners for every major Welsh trainer, so I've been incredibly lucky to have the support of them all. It's great to have everyone in one room for a night."

The awards provided a family celebration, with Sean's brother James Bowen receiving a Special Recognition Award alongside fellow jockey Ben Jones.

Retired trainers Peter and Karen Bowen received the Outstanding Contribution to Welsh Racing Award, while their third son Mickey was runner-up in the National Hunt Trainer of the Year category. That award went to Evan and Cath Williams.

The ceremony recognised achievements across flat and national hunt racing, ownership and breeding.

David Evans received the flat trainer award, Kelly Thomas of Maywood Stud was named best breeder and Walters Plant Hire the owner of the year.

Daniel Muscutt was named best flat jockey while Haiti Couleurs and All Ways Glamorous won national hunt and flat horse of the year awards respectively.

Bowen's success came prior to the Welsh Racing Festival, which begins at Chepstow on Friday and marks an important early-season meeting for National Hunt racing.

The Pembrokeshire rider enjoyed a productive meeting last year, recording four winners across the three days and landing three of the major races.

He is hoping to make another strong start this time, although he acknowledged that his headline ride on Queenie St. Clair in Friday's feature race - the Welsh Champion Hurdle - would be a difficult prospect.

"It will be more difficult to start this time as I'm on a 40 to 1 ride, Queenie St. Clair, for the big one, but I'll be giving it my best," Bowen said.

Bowen goes into the meeting second in the current jockeys' championship standings, with Harry Skelton having made a strong start to the season.

The Welsh jockey underlined regaining the title remained his main objective.

"I'm not used to being second. Harry's had an incredible start [but] I want to be champion jockey again," he said.