26 January 2024 , 22:00
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Sean Bowen is raring to go for the final stage of his jockeys' title fight with weighing room rival Harry Cobden.
The top riders sit first and second in the championship, both seeking a lucrative first crown for racing over jumps on April 27. Today marked a month since 26-year-old Bowen's flow of winners was paused by a fall at Aintree.
Cobden, who partners the first four favourites on Saturday's Cheltenham card, has made significant inroads into a 30-win deficit. After he doubled up at Sandown on Friday, the gap now stands at 17, an advantage Bowen is ever keen to maintain if given the green light to return this week.
"I've got a scan on Tuesday and if that goes well there will be a fitness test to get back racing," he said. "I'm hopeful it will be very soon, as I've been working out non-stop at Oaksey House."
Cobden is on board market leader Stay Away Fay for his boss Paul Nicholls in the feature Paddy Power Cotswold Chase. And he will hope to get the meeting off to a flyer on JCB Triumph Hurdle favourite Burdett Road, from rookie National Hunt trainer James Owen's stable.
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Sean Bowen taking the reins on fans' favourite Not So Sleepy (Getty Images)Leading the opposition in the Gloucestershire venue's opener is Sir Gino, ridden by James Bowen – Sean's younger brother who deputises for Nico de Boinville. After he required extra time to heal from a collarbone injury, Bowen junior hopes to be Nicky Henderson's super sub on red-hot My Pension Expert Clarence House Chase favourite Jonbon.
"I haven't watched a lot of racing while I've been off, but I haven't missed a race James has been in," Sean added. "He's riding with lots of confidence and definitely deserves the big opportunities."