Sean Bowen is set to be Champion Jockey by a long way this season. No rider since AP McCoy retired has put up numbers in his league. Yet, he is still chasing his first Cheltenham Festival victory.
Bowen rides primarily for Olly Murphy, a trainer in a similar predicament. Both have enjoyed big days, yet neither have been able to get a winner over the line at the biggest jumps meeting of them all.
For Bowen, in particular, though, this year may be different. A couple of the pair’s better chances have been sadly ruled out, but the Champion Jockey has a Gold Cup mount the envy of many others.
He will partner Haiti Couleurs in the Gold Cup for Rebecca Curtis. The Irish and Welsh Grand National winner has flown through the ranks. Though Bowen has chances earlier in the week, it would be quite something if his duck was broken in the biggest race of them all.
“I’ve never gone to Cheltenham with good chances” – Bowen
Bowen was speaking to the Guardian ahead of the Festival, outlining the difficulty has faced in riding a horse with a chance at Cheltenham.
“Over the last 10 years it’s been so dominated by the Irish that it’s very hard for the British to even get a sniff of winning,” Bowen said. “I’ve never gone to Cheltenham with good chances. But I’m hoping this year will be the year.”
Unlike in other sports, where one of the leading lights struggling on the big stage would make headlines, Bowen’s plight is more understandable. He has ridden 52 times at the Cheltenham Festival. The average price of his mounts has been close to 40/1.
In expected winners terms, the maths dictates he would only have one winner by now anyway. With the competitiveness of Cheltenham, it is not surprising that there has been a slight underperformance.
His day one chances are slightly shorter prices this year, but Bowen still tempers expectations.
“On the first day I’ve got Resplendent Grey, Wade Out and Booster Bob. They’re in handicaps and all between 10-1 and 20-1 so they’re hard to win.”
He does, however, highlight two chances he is particularly keen on. One of those is Haiti Couleurs.
“Wade Out is second favourite for the National Hunt Chase and Haiti Couleurs is probably my best ride of the week. Native River and Synchronised were Gold Cup winners that are quite like Haiti Couleurs. They all won the Welsh National, stay very well and jump very well. I see no negatives.”