As Cheltenham Festival discussion is often focussed on horses and trainers, it can be easy to forget the four-day event is a huge occasion for jockeys too. Not only do hopeful riders get a chance to make a name for themselves, but there is an awful lot of prize money up for grabs.
Naturally, such a prestigious event regularly attracts the best jump jockeys but one man who isn’t attending this year’s festival is James Bowen. The Welshman, who is enjoying a solid 18% strike rate this season and a +13.46 steeplechase level stakes return, has been prevented from taking part in even a single race at Cheltenham.
Bowen Punished For Hereford Incident
On Sunday 23rd February, Bowen headed to Hereford to compete in a Class 4 handicap. On his only appearance of the day, he was tasked with guiding 15/8 favourite Zestful Hope to victory in a 2m3f chase. This he managed, finishing a length clear of Intimate in second place. There was no controversy at the time but the Whip Review Committee took issue with his whip usage during the contest.
RACE 2 RESULT – The Watch Live Racing At @StarSports_Bet Handicap Chase
🥇 Zestful Hope
🥈 Intimate
🥉 JaipaletempsJockey: Ben Bromley
Trainer: @CharlieLongsdon
Owner: Mrs Gillian Morgan pic.twitter.com/x9DTxhHESS— Hereford Racecourse (@HerefordRaces) February 23, 2025
The Committee, which consists of Stewards, believed that Bowen had used the whip excessively approaching the home bend. The Welshman was judged to have used the whip twice above the permitted allowance and subsequently was hit with a seven-day ban. Bowen appealed the decision, and his plea was heard by an independent disciplinary panel on 6th March, but they ruled in the committee’s favour.
How Common Are Whipping Offences?
While this story has attracted some media attention to due the unfortunate timing of the incident, whipping offences are not unusual, even if they only apply to a small percentage of rides. According to British Horseracing Authority data, from the start of the new rules in 2023 up until December 2024, there were 1,285 referrals to the Whip Review Committed. Out of these, breaches were found in 1,139 cases. The most common offence, and the one Bowen was found guilty of, was whipping above the permitted level.
Jockeys are well aware of the rules regarding whip use and the committee is not known for being lenient or for making exceptions. Under the rules, a jockey can move a suspension back to 14 days from the date of the race, but Bowen was already banned on Sunday and Monday due to a careless riding offence. Due to this, he was unable to switch dates.
Bowen’s Reaction
Although disappointed, Bowen accepted his fate. He said:
“It’s not ideal, but I made a mistake and I have to suffer the consequences.”
Not ideal is something of an understatement because the jockey, who is on 68 winners for the season, just six short of his personal best, was set for a fairly busy Cheltenham Festival.
Nicky Henderson had him booked for several rides and he would have likely been tasked with riding Lulamba or Palladium, depending on which one first-choice jockey Nico de Boinville discarded. The trainer, speaking about the situation said:
“It’s very unfortunate… He’s flying along and I feel very sorry for him and a bit sorry for ourselves.
It’s brutal. There’s nothing one can do, it’s the rules.”
Bowen’s Cheltenham Record
Ranked sixth in the Jump Jockeys Championship at the start of the Cheltenham Festival, this was a huge opportunity for Bowen to land his first winner at Cheltenham’s prized meeting. He came close in 2018 as he finished a neck short in the Ultima Handicap on Shantou Flyer but he has not been this close since. Perhaps this is partly because Cheltenham is not one of his best courses. Looking across all starts (not just Festival starts) he has a low 11.8% strike rate and -33.55 level stakes loss from 93 efforts.
James Bowen’s Rides at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival
| Race | Horse (SP) | Trainer | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Champion Hurdle | Luccia (33/1) | Nicky Henderson | Third |
| Mares’ Hurdle | Theatre Glory (125/1) | Nicky Henderson | Pulled-Up |
| Coral Cup | Lucky Place (25/1) | Nicky Henderson | Fourth |
| Pertemps Final | Chantry House (20/1) | Nicky Henderson | Tenth |
| Triumph Hurdle | Mighty Bandit (28/1) | Warren Greatrex | Pulled-Up |
Last year Bowen took part in five festival races, four of them for Nicky Henderson. From them, his best effort came in the Champion Hurdle as he managed to secure a third-place finish on 33/1 outsider Luccia. He had to skip the 2023 festival due to injury while in 2022, he made just two appearances, both of very unfancied horses (66/1 and 100/1).
The consolation for Bowen is that he is an improving jockey and if he keeps it up, he will be booked for a fair number of rides for the 2026 Cheltenham Festival. You would suspect he will be a lot more cautious with his whip in the build-up to next year’s event too, as he will be desperate to avoid a repeat of this year’s disappointment.