The Grand National 2024 takes place on Saturday, and with so many horses and jockeys to choose from why not narrow it down and bet on the Welsh.
There are two Welsh jockeys and one Welsh-trained horse competing in this year’s race. Here’s everything you need to know about them.
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The Bowen brothers
Sean and James Bowen grew up in rural Pembrokeshire with their parents Peter and Karen Bowen who train horses.
Perhaps it was inevitable, then, that both would grow up to ride themselves, but it certainly was not assured that both would be as successful as they have been.
Sean Bowen, 26, has won some of the biggest races in recent years and placed 4th riding Noble Yeats at the national last year. In 2015, in his first year racing he rode 51 winners.
James Bowen, 22, rode 57 winners in his first season and was the youngest ever jockey to ride the winner at the Welsh Grand National in 2018, aged 16.
Sean will ride The Goffer this year, an outsider owned by Irish trainer Gordon Elliot. (Odds: 66/1)
Jamie will ride one of his father’s horses at the national this year- Mac Tottie. (Odds: 100/1)
Kitty’s Light
Fresh from back-to-back victories at the Scottish Grand National and the Bet365 Gold Cup in Sandown in 8 days in April 2023. Kitty’s Light’s trainer Christian Williams is confident that he can perform at the National on Sunday. If the eight-year-old was to take victory, it would be the first Welsh winner since 1905.
It would also be incredibly important for the family if Kitty’s Light could clinch the win after the family has suffered terrible news in the last 18 months, with Christian’s daughter Betsy diagnosed with leukaemia in March 2023. You can read their story here.
(Odds: 14/1)
