Sean Bowen eclipses last season's tally and extends title lead to 30 with treble

Jump jockeys’ championship leader Sean Bowen eclipsed his tally of 157 winners last season with a treble on the seven-race card.

Bowen has a 30-winner lead over nearest pursuer Harry Skelton and two of his three victories came for main supporter Olly Murphy.

The trainer-jockey combination struck with Salley Gardens, who was a 25-length winner in the 2m4½f handicap chase, and Coastal Rock, who won the 3m½f handicap hurdle by six and a half lengths.

Murphy said on Sky Sports Racing: “You’d rather have Sean riding for you than against you. He’s been fantastic all season and has thankfully stayed injury-free so far. It’s been going really well for him.”

The middle leg of Bowen’s treble came aboard the Warren Greatrex-trained Koapey, who justified 4-11 favouritism with a two-and-three-quarter-length victory in the 2m maiden hurdle.

Daly delivers

Henry Daly is having his most successful season since 2017-18 following the length-and-a-half victory of Ultra Beat in the 3m handicap chase.

Ultra Beat’s first success at the 11th attempt under Stan Sheppard took Daly’s tally to 31 winners for the campaign. He saddled 33 winners in 2017-18 and a career-best 43 winners in 2003-04.

Well-backed winner

Faded Fantasy was backed into 9-4 favourite (from 15-2) and justified the support in division two of the 2m4½f handicap hurdle for Jack Tudor and Christian Williams.

He scored by two and a quarter lengths from Our Pink Lady, whose trainer James Owen landed the first division with the Gavin Sheehan-ridden Ivane.

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