- Bowen has not ridden since he took a heavy fall on Farren Glory on Boxing Day
- He leads Harry Cobden by 30 and will be hoping his advantage is not eroded
- Weighing room colleague Nico de Boinville will also need a spell recuperating
Title-chasing jockey Sean Bowen says he is hoping a knee injury sustained in a fall at Aintree on Boxing Day will not keep him on the sidelines for more than a fortnight.
Weighing room colleague Nico de Boinville will also need a spell recuperating after he broke a collarbone in a fall at Doncaster yesterday.
Bowen has not ridden since he took a heavy fall on Farren Glory when in front at the second-last flight of the Formby Hurdle.
The 26-year-old, enjoying the best season of his career with 121 winners, leads Harry Cobden by 30 and will be hoping his advantage is not significantly eroded while he is out.
Welshman Bowen said: ‘I have twisted my knee and it is just a bit sore. I don’t think it is anything major so I am hoping it will be just a week or two and I will be back then.’
Title-chasing jockey Sean Bowen says he’s hopeful of returning to fitness in a fortnight
The 26-year-old jokckey suffered a knee injury in a fall at Aintree on Boxing Day
De Boinville suffered his injury when Therapist stumbled and fell two out when still in contention in the Juvenile Maiden Hurdle won by Ezmerellda.
The injury means De Boinville’s boss Nicky Henderson will have to shuffle his jockeys, starting at Newbury this afternoon where De Boinville was due to ride two of the trainer’s most promising youngsters — Supreme Novices’ Hurdle antepost favourite Jeriko Du Reponet and unbeaten Challow Hurdle contender Willmount.
In De Boinville’s absence, Sean’s younger brother James Bowen steps in for the rides.
De Boinville will want to be back for Cheltenham’s Festival Trials meeting on January 27 when the unbeaten Constitution Hill is due to run again.
He has experienced an eventful Christmas racing programme. Only two of his eight rides finished their races — Sir Gino and Constitution Hill — and they both won.
He also had to pull up Malystic after dislocating a thumb when the gelding made a mistake at the first fence of Kempton’s Desert Orchid Handicap Chase.