Sean Bowen's family make big change at stable where new champion jockey grew up

Sean Bowen's family have made a key change to the way their stable is run after celebrating his huge career milestone. The 27-year-old was crowned champion jockey of 2024-5 with a haul of 180 winners from 902 rides at UK racecourses.

He rounded off his achievement by taking the Irish Grand National on Haiti Couleurs and bet365 Gold Cup riding Resplendent Grey in the final week of the season.

Between the big races at Fairyhouse and Sandown, Bowen showed no signs of slowing down with a 50-1 Perth four-timer. His father Peter and elder brother Mickey played a part by successfully preparing Fairlawn Flyer for the Highland National.

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It was the culmination of a campaign which saw the pair combine on the licence at the family's yard in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, for the first time. But from today, Peter lets his son take the reins with seven runners at Fakenham, Ffos Las and Worcester in his own name.

"Mickey is taking over and it'll be nice for him to have a shot at it," said Peter, whose record-setting three-time Aintree Topham Chase hero Always Waining is going strong in retirement.

"It's something I have been thinking about for some time. I have trained for 30 years and we've had some great days at Aintree which is my favourite track.

"My wife Karen has put as much into it as I have and the boys have done so well. All of us had a great season and it was amazing to see Sean take the title after he just missed out the previous year. That made it all the sweeter."

Bowen senior started off with point-to-point horses before he discovered the likes of 2005 Cheltenham Gold Cup second Take The Stand and Mckelvey, who secured the same position in the Grand National two years later.

Father and son were in unison during the most recent jump season when their family business made its greatest gains for six years.

A new era begins this afternoon when Mickey, 30, starts off with Kate Madrik in the 2.45 race at Fakenham.

"Dad has trained over 1,000 winners and probably doesn't get the credit he deserves," he said.

"We've shared our best season for a while and hopefully we have a few chances to start off with a winner."

The stable rings the changes just days after Mickey's younger brother James bagged the Grade One Ballymore Champion Four Year Old Hurdle on Lulamba at the Punchestown Festival, a meeting where Sean was also among the winners.

"It has been a brilliant week," said Mickey, who spent six months working with back-to-back British training champion .

"It's sad to see dad retire but he will be keeping busy. To start off with he's making a trip to Worcester for our runner there!"