'He's seriously good' - Henderson pledges support for future Bowen title tilt

Sean Bowen might have threatened to lay down a title challenge to Brian Hughes this season, but his younger brother James has been promised assistance for a championship assault one day.

Nico de Boinville, a stalwart at the historic Seven Barrows stable, remains number one rider, but Nicky Henderson hailed Bowen, who followed his older brother by becoming champion conditional in 2017-18.

Aidan Coleman, Adrian Heskin, Daryl Jacob, Max Kendrick and Paul O’Brien will also get rides for the leading trainer, along with conditionals Nathan Brennan, Ben Ffrench Davis and Sean O'Briain.

"You couldn't have better than Nico, who is brilliant," said Henderson. "He's here most days and is Seven Barrows through and through. He makes sure he knows everything that is happening, and then there's James, who will be champion one day.

"Nico's not trying to be champion; James will be. I'm going to launch him in a big way because I think he's seriously good, while he's a lovely lad too."

Nicky Henderson on the mic at this annual owners' dayCredit: Edward Whitaker

Off the track, second-in-command Charlie Morlock remains an integral part of the team, while assistant Billy Aprahamian, now training in his own right, has been replaced by George Daly, who is backed up by head staff Katie Croft and Dave Fehily.

New owners include Malcolm Denmark, Pat Sexton, whose horses run under the banner of West Coast Haulage Limited, Max McNeill and Greg Stone, Carolyn Kendrick and John Neocleous, while Tim Syder is a named owner for the first time after an interest with Thurloe Thoroughbreds at one point.

"It was a blow when Mike Grech took his horses to Ireland, but I wish him and them well," said Henderson. "One door closes, but another opens. It's lovely to have some new owners whom I'm sure we'll have plenty of fun with."

He added: "We've relaid the main all-weather gallop with a slightly different surface. The last one lasted 15 years, so I'm hoping this one gets me into my 90s!

"It needed doing as the old surface got a bit tired, but all the riders say it's lovely, which is all I need to know."

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