Brothers Sean and James Bowen will go head-to-head once again in this year’s Grand National. The two have competed against one another at Aintree in three of the past four editions.
The National is a race that captivates the country like no other and part of the appeal is that most of the runners and riders have stories to tell. This renewal is yet another family affair for the Bowen brothers.
Sean will be looking to give his country a first National winner since 1905 when he gets a leg up on the Rebecca Curtis-trained Haiti Couleurs on Saturday. Younger sibling James has picked up a ride for the winner of the last two Nationals, Willie Mullins, getting on board High Class Hero.
The brothers are currently operating at the top of their game. Sean will soon be crowned back-to-back British champion jockey and James rode his first two Cheltenham Festival winners in March. Neither has tasted glory in the biggest race of them all, however.
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“I suppose when we’re racing, he’s just another horse in the race,” Coral Ambassador Sean exclusively told Mirror Sport. “But it’s always nice having your family around you.
“Luckily, I get to ride against James most days and he’s in the weighing room every day. We’ll both be competing to win (the National) again this year.
“It’s nice. We’re spending a lot of time together and I suppose we’re both obviously in the same profession, so we get to talk through races and bounce off each other a little bit.”
Ahead of the National, Sean’s ride Haiti Couleurs is priced at 14-1 while James’ mount High Class Hero comes in at 50-1 with Coral at the time of writing. Sean first rode in the race when he was a teenager, getting round on the Paul Nicholls-trained Mon Parrain.
His best finish in the National came in 2023, when he got on the back of 2022 winner Noble Yeats and placed fourth. Sean admits the race holds just as much gravitas for riders as it does for punters.
“Since I was a kid it’s always been a magical race to watch and it’s always the race you enjoyed watching,” he said. “I suppose there’s that sort of magic around the race, isn’t there? I think it still sort of brings that unique magic to racing and it’s definitely one that you enjoy riding in.
“It is (a big occasion) for riders. Some jockeys get more nervous than others. Look, we all know the importance of the race and it takes a lot to win it.
“It’s very unique. The fences are different. It’s over four and a half miles, which we never normally ride over, so it’s very, very different, but we all enjoy the challenge every year.
“I suppose your mind has to be on the ball a bit longer than usual. A lot longer than any other race. A lot more jumping. It takes more out of you than any other race. But jockeys are used to riding in races every day so it’s sort of about trying to make it as normal as possible.”
