Bowen reflects on delayed Cesarewitch victory

Sean D Bowen is in the record books as a Cesarewitch-winning rider but rather than getting to celebrate on-track, he had to settle for hearing the news driving to Leicester on Tuesday.

Irish raider Alphonse Le Grande prevailed by a nose on the day at Newmarket, with Bowen’s mount, the Simon and Ed Crisford-trained Manxman, the vanquished runner-up.

However, it soon became apparent Alphonse Le Grande’s rider Jamie Powell had breached the whip rules, prompting a referral to the Whip Review Committee on Tuesday.

The WRC duly confirmed Powell had struck his mount 10 times, crossing the threshold for disqualification and promoting Manxman to first, with Bowen soaking up the result en-route to racing in the East Midlands.

He said: “They were saying it could get overturned straight after but we would have to wait until Tuesday.

“There was great excitement on Tuesday when I was driving to Leicester, I got a phone call to say the result did get overturned.

“I’ve probably never been as happy as I was going racing after hearing that news! It’s probably one of the biggest handicaps in England that everyone wants to win.”

For Bowen, it was a bittersweet feeling to be announced winner of one of the year’s most prestigious handicaps but miss out on his moment in the spotlight following the race.

And the 19-year-old – who is in a tussle with Joe Leavy for the apprentice title and hopes to lift the trophy at Catterick on Saturday – admits it would have been a great way to end a successful season if the result had been overturned on the day.

Bowen continued: “Everyone had the same idea that the result should have been changed on the day and it is definitely something they will have to look at, especially a race that big with the prize-money on offer.

“I never saw the horse on the outside and I just thought it was myself and Mr Whelan (Trevor, on Ian Williams’ Aqwaam) that it was between. As we pulled up, Mr Powell asked me did I win and I wasn’t sure, as there was a fair distance across the track between the both of us.

“It would have been a big moment for my career, but I didn’t realise he was four over until I was leaving, so I never really thought too much about it.

“I just had to wait until Tuesday to see what decision they made and luckily it came out in favour for us.”