Sean Bowen’s anticipated crowning as this season’s champion jump jockey would be entirely deserved after the Welshman’s cruel luck with injury a year ago, says his main trainer Olly Murphy.
Entering the final month of the 2024-25 season, and heading into Grand National week, Bowen holds a lead of 31 wins, external over his nearest challenger Harry Skelton.
Bowen, the stable jockey at Midlands-based Murphy’s Warren Chase stables in Warwickshire, was leading the race to be champion jockey last season, only to suffer a fall on Boxing Day which ruled him out of action for two months.
In that time, his nearest rival and friend Harry Cobden overtook Bowen and built a big enough lead to win his first title.
Although Bowen’s current lead now looks safe, Murphy is praying his jockey will get the job done safely by the time the prize is presented at Sandown Park on Saturday 26 April.
“I don’t think anyone would now begrudge Sean his first title after what he went through last season,” Murphy told BBC Sport. “It was gut-wrenching for him, being so far clear and then getting injured.”
Murphy does not have an entry for Saturday’s National at Aintree, so Bowen has picked up a spare ride on 20/1 shot Three Card Brag for Irish trainer Gordon Elliott, Murphy’s former boss.
