3 minute read

Champion conditional Sean Bowen topped an already memorable day at Sandown by steering Just A Par to a last-gasp win in the bet365 Gold Cup.

Bowen had sealed his title by winning the first race of the afternoon but he really underlined his potential in the saddle as he produced Just A Par to challenge at the last before kicking away up the Sandown hill.

It looked as though Paint The Clouds, Le Reve and Guess Again might battle out the finish but a clutch of horses fought their way back into contention by the last, with Just A Par proving strongest of all.

Bowen pushed on after jumping the final obstacle and the 14-1 chance responded for pressure to run out a length-and-a-quarter winner for the rider's boss Paul Nicholls.

Vics Canvas was another to muster a late charge in second, with Le Reve third and Paint The Clouds fourth.

Seventeen-year-old Bowen said: "All he needed was that trip. All he does is keep galloping. I thought at the third-last I'd been waiting too long, but I thought they'd come back to me and thankfully they did."

Nicholls said: "He gave him a peach of a ride. I had no doubts he'd stay."

Bowen clinched the conditionals' title with victory aboard Lil Rockerfeller in the bet365 Juvenile Handicap Hurdle.

He needed just one win to make sure of his championship success and Lil Rockerfeller's triumph sealed victory over Nico de Boinville.

Lil Rockerfeller was sent of the 5-1 favourite and despite hitting something of a flat spot in the middle of the race, he found plenty in the closing stages.

Racing neck and neck with Sternrubin coming down to the last, the Neil King-trained Lil Rockerfeller responded for pressure to run out a two-and-three-quarter-length winner.

Bowen said: "It was brilliant of Neil to put me on him. This week I've been working hard to get in front of Nico and he has been hard to beat. It's been good and there's been plenty of highlights."

Part-owner Andy Smith was delighted to get the weekend off to a winning start with another big day in prospect on Sunday as he will be tackling the London Marathon.

He said: "Since I've bought the horse, he's done fantastically well.

"It's a shame (regular rider) Trevor Whelan couldn't be here as he's getting married over in Ireland, and that's where Neil King is as well, but they've done a lot hard work with him.

"We decided between us to put Sean on as I've known since he was three years old. To come here and have a winner for me is unbelievable. Sean said he will make some three-mile chaser."

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