Top jockey James Bowen has been taken to hospital with a suspected arm injury following a fall at Bangor. The incident occurred when his horse, Laughing John, fell at the final fence of the Mount Vines Novices' Handicap Chase, despite holding a three-length lead at the time.
Fall at the Final Fence
Bowen was riding the Nicky Henderson-trained Laughing John, the 3-1 favourite, when the pair parted company at the last obstacle. Col Du Pre, ridden by Charlie Deutsch, also fell independently in the same incident. Just Golden, Harry Skelton's mount, was badly hampered but recovered to finish second behind 11-1 winner They Want Me, who completed a double for Donald McCain and Theo Gillard.
Further Incidents Delay the Card
The race was marred by multiple incidents. Joebottles, trained by Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero, suffered a fatal fall at the third fence, causing a delay to the remainder of the card. Sky Sports Racing presenter Zoey Bird said: "It was married with several incidents that's why there has been a delay here. I'm afraid to say Joebottles sustained a fatal injury, (his jockey) Jack Tudor walked back in."
Bird added: "Col De Pre was down for a while and Laughing John was just winded. James Bowen was taken to hospital with a suspected fractured wrist."
Expected Spell on the Sidelines
If scans confirm the injury, Bowen, the younger brother of champion jockey Sean, is expected to be out of action for several weeks. He has ridden 25 winners in the current jockeys championship, which began in May, two months after his first Cheltenham Festival success on Holloway Queen in the National Hunt Novices' Handicap Chase.
Bowen, a former champion conditional, also partnered stable flagbearer Jonbon in the 2026 Clarence House Chase at Ascot. In April, he and his brother dead-heated in a race at the Perth Festival, the second time they had shared the honours.
