Trainer Peter Scudamore – a seven-time champion jockey and one of the most respected voices in National Hunt racing – believes Sean’s talent is exceptional.
“I was talking to Peter Scudamore the other day,” says Peter Bowen.
“He said he had been watching jockeys all his life and he told me he thinks Sean is the best he has ever seen.
“To come from someone like Peter Scudamore, that’s a great accolade.”
Peter believes that both Sean and James possess the rare ability to “win races they really shouldn’t win”, describing that as the mark of a true champion.
“They are also completely committed to what they do and spend a lot of time in the gym and running to be super fit,” he adds.
“All three of them have managed to remain very good friends and they have to talk to each other about four times a day.”
This weekend’s Welsh Racing Festival will showcase not only the brilliance of the Bowens, but also the growing ambition of the sport across Wales.
Sean Bowen, who is preparing for several key stages at Chepstow, says the event marks a big step forward for the country’s racing profile.
“We need to promote racing in Wales as much as possible because we have some brilliant trainers and brilliant jockeys and obviously some great owners,” he says.
“So I think racing in Wales is booming at the moment. Our biggest race at the moment is obviously the Welsh Grand National.
“But this big festival meeting in Chepstow, where all the stars will start their season, is quite exciting.
“I know Chepstow has done a good job of promoting it all. A few of the owners are telling me about the good deals they’ve got on hotels, buses and other things, so they’re doing the right thing and playing fair to Chepstow Racecourse for that.”
For Sean, the location of Chepstow is ideal: close enough to attract the best stables from England, while giving the Welsh races a central stage.
“Even though Chepstow is in Wales, it’s quite close to a lot of the show jumping trainers over the border, so it’s not far for them to go,” he says.
“A three-day festival is great. A lot of people will enjoy staying and enjoying themselves over the three days, so it’s really exciting.”
As Wales’ flagship festival prepares to open, a family rooted in Pembrokeshire soil aims to rise to the top of British show jumping racing.
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