James Bowen made history at Chepstow on Saturday by becoming the youngest jockey to win the Welsh Grand National, riding the 13-year-old Raz De Maree to victory. The 18-year-old, who was still pony racing a year ago, claimed the prestigious steeplechase in his first season as a professional jockey.
Trained by Irish handler Gavin Cromwell, Raz De Maree carried just 10st 5lb thanks to Bowen’s 5lb weight allowance. Cromwell said the horse’s lightweight burden was crucial, calling it ‘gold dust’ on the stamina-sapping ground. Bowen’s tactical ride saw him keep the veteran close to the pace before striking at the second-last fence.
James Bowen is the son of trainer Peter Bowen, who saddled 100-1 shot Mountainous in the 2013 Welsh Grand National. Reflecting on his win, the young jockey said: ‘It's amazing. From the age of eight, I knew I would be a jockey. If you'd told me a year ago I'd win this, I'd never have believed you.’
The victory was a family affair, with Peter Bowen watching proudly from the paddock. ‘He's always been very competitive,’ the father said. ‘He finished third in his first pony race at nine and was devastated. He won't give in and trains hard. He deserves it.’
Raz De Maree’s success marked the second Welsh Grand National victory for an Irish-trained horse, and the winner was one of two 13-year-olds to fill the first two places. Alfie Spinner finished second, while favourite Vintage Clouds could only manage fourth in an incident-packed race that saw three horses fall and three unseat their riders.
Nicky Henderson, who employs Bowen as a conditional jockey, won the Grade One Finale Hurdle with We Have A Dream, now the 8-1 second-favourite for the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham. Henderson remarked that ‘at least a little bit of Seven Barrows won’ after his own runner Beware The Bear was pulled up.
