Former champion conditional jockey Sean Bowen is swapping the fences for the flat as he is making the most of his current light weight and has picked up some rides on the flat.
Bowen, at the start of the month picked up some rides for trainer Bernard Llewellyn at Chepstow and on Tuesday he has managed to gain another mount in the 1m6f handicap at Haydock for Neil Mulholland.
The jumps rider is hoping that his agent can slant his career into being a more dual purpose rider, trying to get more rides on the flat in the marathon events.
The 22 year old has still got a huge career ahead of him over fences and has been lucky to pick up some classy rides on some top draw horses, with one of the best being when landing a first Grade 1 win on Harry Fry’s If The Cap Fits at Aintree last year.
(Credit Racing Post) Bowen said: Racing over jumps is very off and on at the moment and we start five days without any [meetings] on Tuesday, so while it’s quiet this summer I’m just aiming to ride a few of the heavier weights on the Flat. If it’s quiet again next summer I’ll probably do the same again.
Unbelievable finish! If The Cap Fits gets up on the line to deny Roksana and the brave Apple's Jade in the Ryanair Stayers Hurdle at @AintreeRaces pic.twitter.com/rPpCbvCsE4
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 6, 2019
"It’s just a case of keeping myself busy and making use of my light weight. I’m doing 9st at Haydock, but that’s as light as I’ll be doing.
"Mark is keeping an eye out for opportunities between now and when jumping gets going again properly, and hopefully I can pick up a few spares."
Sadly the youngster has now lost the ride on the Grade 1 winner with Paul and Clare Rooney privately selling If The Cap Fits' to Simon Munir and Isaac Souede.
Bowen added: "I’ll be riding most of Harry’s, but not If The Cap Fits, as Daryl [Jacob] will be on him from now on. Dad will be busy too, and I also ride most of Caroline Bailey's. I still ride out for Paul [Nicholls] now and again and so I hope to get the odd ride there on a busy Saturday.
"Harry’s got a very good team, with some nice bumper winners going hurdling and some promising hurdle winners going chasing."