Sean Bowen is prepared to sacrifice competing at the Cheltenham Festival in his quest to become Champion Jockey… as he looks to bounce back from Boxing Day fall at Aintree

Sean Bowen is willing to sacrifice competition at Cheltenham to look for winners elsewhere to reignite his quest to become Champion Jockey.

It seemed a formality before Christmas for Bowen to win his first jockey title, but a fall at Aintree on Boxing Day sidelined him for six weeks.

He subsequently saw his closest rival, Harry Cobden, improve his lead and build a lead of his own.

Cobden, backed by the firepower of trainer Paul Nicholls, is likely to emerge victorious but Bowen, fresh from confidence-building success at Thunder Rock in Kelso, refuses to give up the fight.

Cheltenham has glamour, but Bowen is willing to go to provincial tracks in search of success rather than recovering Festival numbers.

“I’ve gotten a lot more runners-up than winners since I came back,” he said.

‘I was feeling a little frustrated. It always helps to have a good horse to ride. Thunder Rock was by far my biggest winner since returning.

‘With Cheltenham, it all depends on what you get. I’ll be there on day one with Not So Sleepy, who would have half a chance if he ran into really soft ground in the Champions Hurdle. I’ll pick and choose from there. It could be Ffos Las or Fakenham on Gold Cup day. I need winners.’

Bowen rides primarily for Thunder Rock coach Olly Murphy, who is determined to give him every chance to realize his ambition.

“Sean has had a horrible injury,” he said. ‘He is chewing painkillers and has found it difficult. May the best man win.’