'It's just mad' – disbelief as brothers Sean and James Bowen dead-heat in Cheltenham opener

A moment of family history was made at Cheltenham on Saturday when brothers Sean and James Bowen dead-heated in the JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle. It is the first time the two top Welsh riders have shared the spoils in a race. 

James Bowen made what appeared to be a race-winning move on Quantock Hills in the home straight and the Warren Greatrex-trained runner led approaching the final stages. However, Teriferma, trained by Jack Jones, motored home to catch him on the line.

"I thought I got done, I was fuming," said James Bowen. "I absolutely knew it was Sean coming at me and I thought he'd beaten us 50 yards out so it's just mad. I said well done to Sean but I couldn't have asked for a better result. 

"It was strange, I really wanted the win, but the dead-heat is the best of both worlds for both of us really. It's one extra for us both."

The victory is especially important for Sean Bowen, who is chasing a first jockeys' championship having finished second last season after a long tussle with Harry Cobden.

"I was getting there, but I thought I was coming too late," he said. "James thought I'd won on the line, but we'll take a dead-heat. To do it at Cheltenham is really good as well."

The two winners of the Triumph Trial could be on course to clash again, as the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival was mentioned as a target for both.

Jones, who won this race last season with An Bradan Feasa as well, also revealed he was the underbidder for Quantock Hills when he was sold at the Arqana Summer Sale in July.

Curtis back in winner's circle

Sean Bowen was soon back in the winner’s enclosure when he provided Rebecca Curtis with her first Cheltenham winner in four years with Haiti Couleurs in the 3m1½f novice handicap chase. 

Curtis's last success at the track was with Lisnagar Oscar in the 2020 Stayers' Hurdle, and she could return to the festival with this seven-year-old, who denied James Bowen victory on the fast-finishing Transmission. 

Haiti Couleurs claims his second chase success under Sean BowenCredit: John Grossick

Curtis said: "It's nice to be back here with a winner; it's just been a case of getting the right type of horse to come here with. 

"Haiti Couleurs' slightly backward for his age but he's just kept improving with racing.

"I really fancied him for the National Hunt Chase as he stays all day, but Sean says he's improving that much that you wouldn't know if he would make the Brown Advisory. We'll be looking at both of those."

Hunter's successful return

Evan Williams has suffered a slow start to the season, but his luck appeared to be finally changing after Libberty Hunter made a successful seasonal debut in the 2m½f handicap chase.

The eight-year-old was third in the Maghull Novices' Chase on his final start last season and built on that effort with an easy victory under Harry Cobden, scoring by four lengths from joint-favourite Issar D'Airy. 

Libberty Hunter canters through the line to win on his seasonal debutCredit: Edward Whitaker

"Our season hasn't panned out how I'd have liked it to," Williams said. "I'm so far behind with a lot of horses and we've been waiting to run for a few weeks and thinking, 'Jesus, is the rain ever going to come?'

"I've learned over the years that going a week too early is a lot worse than going a week too late, but we had to start today and it's nice he did it the way he did. This fella looks like he's getting stronger, which is great."

Read more: 

Triumph Hurdle hero Majborough halved in price to 6-1 for Arkle after impressive chasing debut 

Chianti Classico's racing career in doubt after suffering tendon injury at Cheltenham 

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