The reigning champion is setting a hot pace in the defence of his crown and could have Sir AP McCoy’s best score of 289 winners in a season in his sights
14:28, 24 Oct 2025
Sean Bowen could have Sir AP McCoy’s astonishing record season’s best score in his sights after he rode his 118th winner of the jumps season at Cheltenham on Friday.
The reigning champion jump jockey has been in prolific form, riding 11 winners in the last five days. As the action switched to the home of the Cheltenham Festival for the first time in the campaign, he scored on his second ride, steering Alnilam to victory in the Cheltenham Holland Cooper Chasing Excellence Novices’ Chase. Alnilam became trainer Olly Murphy’s ninth winner from 11 runners.
Bowen said: “Things are going great. I have to give a big mention to Olly Murphy. To have his horses in this sort of form is incredible.
“I’ve honestly never been so excited going into a season and hopefully we’ll have a few nice ones.”
Bowen is well clear of all his rivals in the jump jockeys’ championship and after his latest win the Welshman is 69 winners clear of the next jockey on the list, his younger brother James.
McCoy, who rode more than 4,300 winners, was champion jockey over 20 consecutive seasons and in the 2001-2 campaign overtook Sir Gordon Richards’ record to ride an incredible 289 winners.
Bowen said: “I’d love to beat McCoy’s records now. McCoy was 20-times champion. I’m 28 so I’m not sure I’ll beat that record but look it would be nice to be riding his sort of numbers and hopefully I can start doing that.
“I’m obviously improving. Things have got better and better but I am riding for good people now. Obviously the main stable is Olly but I’ve ridden so many winners for James Owen, my brother Mickey couldn’t have had a better start to his training career and I ride winners for Martin Keighley as well. I ride winners for so many people and I’m very, very lucky.”