Landofsmiles brings joy to Bowen team intent on building for the future

Much has been made of Ireland's dominance at the Cheltenham Festival, but Peter Bowen, who landed the 2m7½f handicap chase with Landofsmiles, hopes he has found a way to hit back.

The Pembrokeshire-based trainer, the father of jockeys Sean and James, had 72 winners in 2006-07, but that figure dwindled to 18 last season and Landofsmiles was his 14th of this campaign.

"We've changed the system by buying a lot of foals as the horses in training, which we used to buy, are making too much money – a ridiculous amount," he said.

"So we've gone for foals and the first crop are coming through as four-year-olds now.

"It's the only way we're going to get good horses. We haven't got the owners to spend £400,000 on a point-to-pointer and I don't really want to give that much for a horse anyway – I'd rather go and buy a house!"

Bowen, whose winner was ridden by James, added: "My wife Karen and I are doing a lot of the buying, but the boys have invested quite a lot of money as well, and hopefully we can get back to where we were."

Bellamy continues to shine

Tom Bellamy, already enjoying his most prolific season, added another two winners to the haul thanks to Es Perfecto and The Domino Effect.

Tom Bellamy: double strike with Es Perfecto and The Domino EffectCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

"Things are going well and I've got some nice connections," he said after bagging the novice hurdle on the Liz Prowting-owned Es Perfecto.

"Mrs Prowting puts a lot into racing and I've had a few winners for her. She's a big supporter of mine who always uses me on Alan King's horses. She's very loyal, which is appreciated."

Bellamy quickly made it 32 for the campaign aboard The Domino Effect, who struck in the maiden hurdle.

"His jumping was super, I saw a stride a blind man would see down the back," the rider added.

Ultimate Warrior

Maasai Warrior's form – PPP5 – was not that inspiring before the 2m3½f handicap chase, but Paul Henderson never lost faith.

"I've always liked him and thought he'd be a super horse," the trainer said.

"But mine always need a run first time, then he had a bad back and then the ground was too testing, but I thought he could run a big race."

New backer

BioWave, an American company that uses electrical signals to block pain, made its first foray into racing by sponsoring the card and also donating £1,500 to the Injured Jockeys Fund.

The Stroud-based Steve Dechan, who has two horses in training with Jonjo O'Neill, has secured the European rights to the technology, which has already received the thumbs up from jockeys who have tested it.

Results, replays and analysis

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