Sean Dylan Bowen goes five clear in champion apprentice tussle with 27-1 treble

Sean Dylan Bowen surged ahead in the race to be champion apprentice with a 27-1 treble, putting him five winners clear of nearest pursuer Joe Leavy.

He made no mistake on 1-6 favourite Usuario Amigo in the 7f maiden stakes for James Owen, with the three-year-old expected to win when dropped in grade having been down the field in a handicap at the Ebor meeting last time out.

Bowen then partnered 2-1 shot Fighting Poet to a narrow victory in the 1m2f handicap before getting a potentially big win in the champion apprentice race on Laser Focus. He narrowly held off the 2-5 Saint Riquier, who was ridden by Leavy.

"It's close enough, which is good I suppose for the spectators," Bowen told Sky Sports Racing after his first winner. "We all get along which is the main thing.

"Usuario Amigo had good form coming into the race and the step back in trip probably suited him as well."

Laser Focus, also trained by Owen, was last seen over hurdles at Newton Abbot and he is declared to run under a penalty in an amateur jockeys' handicap at Chelmsford on Thursday.

Owen's double raised his tally to 38 on the Flat this season, a major step forward as he had no winners from three runners last term. The Newmarket dual-purpose trainer has also been successful over jumps, saddling 11 winners in the early part of the season.

Winning return

Apprentice jockey Grace McEntee enjoyed a first winner since June with the 33-1 Marching Mac in the 6f handicap.

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