HORSE RACING: Three brothers, three nominations: Ffos Las favourites up for Welsh racing’s top honours

Three brothers who learned their trade at Ffos Las are among the leading contenders for the 2026 Welsh Horse Racing Awards, with Sean, James and Mickey Bowen all shortlisted for the ceremony at Chepstow Racecourse on Thursday 8 October.

Sean and James are up against each other, and Ben Jones, for National Hunt Jockey of the Year, while Mickey, the eldest of the three, is in contention for National Hunt Trainer of the Year.

The brothers grew up at the family’s Yet-y-Rhug stables in Little Newcastle, near Letterston in Pembrokeshire, where their father Peter Bowen trained for decades before handing the operation to Mickey.

Ffos Las has long been the family’s home track, and regulars at Trimsaran have watched the brothers grow from children on the yard to the top of the sport. Sean rode a treble there in April, and it was at Ffos Las that Mickey’s name first went up as licence-holder after taking over from his father.

The third name on the jockey shortlist has a Ffos Las connection of his own. Ben Jones, from Carmarthen, rode a treble at the track in March and is the son of Dai Jones, the long-serving clerk of the course at Ffos Las who took on the same role at Chepstow in 2023, and who will be on home ground when the awards are handed out.

A champion, a Festival first and a trainer on the move

Sean goes into the awards as Britain’s reigning champion jump jockey after defending his title in 2025-26 with 241 winners, a tally the organisers say was second only to Sir AP McCoy’s best for a British jumps season.

James finished third in the championship on 105 winners and rode his first Cheltenham Festival winner in March, Holloway Queen in the National Hunt Challenge Cup, beating Sean to become the first of the brothers to ride or train a winner at the Festival.

Mickey’s season included Queensbury Boy’s win in the Grade 3 Summer Plate at Market Rasen, ridden by James, and in recent weeks he has announced plans to move the training operation from Pembrokeshire to Worcestershire.

He faces Evan and Cath Williams, Sam Thomas and Christian Williams for the trainer award.

Chepstow’s centenary year

The awards, sponsored by the Racehorse Owners’ Association and Oakgrove Stud, return to Chepstow in the year the course marks 100 years since it opened in 1926, a milestone celebrated with a Centenary Raceday in August.

Phil Bell, regional director for Arena Racing Company, said: “We are delighted to return the awards to Chepstow on the Centenary year. It has been an exceptional period for Welsh horse racing, with considerable success across both the Flat and National Hunt codes, and there will certainly be plenty to celebrate on the evening.

“Once again, Welsh horse racing is punching above its weight, providing fabulous sporting entertainment and making a significant contribution to the rural economy.”

The rest of the shortlists

David Evans, Grace Harris, Tom Faulkner and Chris Mason contest Flat Trainer of the Year, with Daniel Muscutt, Harry Davies and David Probert up for Flat Jockey of the Year.

Coral Welsh Grand National winner Haiti Couleurs is nominated for Leading National Hunt Horse alongside Liberty Hunter, Steel Ally and Celtic Dino, while Kings Code, All Ways Glamorous, Dandyman Dan and Exclamation are up for Leading Flat Horse.

The Owner of the Year shortlist is John Deer, Walters Plant Hire and Potter Group, Jayne and Gwyn Brace, and Sue Howell. Walters Plant Hire is the company of Dai Walters, whose group built Ffos Las on the former opencast site at Trimsaran. Kelly Thomas is the sole nominee for Breeder of the Year.

The evening will also see Special Recognition Awards, the induction of a racing figure into the Welsh Sports Hall of Fame, and the Outstanding Contribution to Welsh Horse Racing Award, the night’s highest honour.

Four days in the spotlight

The awards open one of the biggest weekends in the Welsh racing calendar. For the second year running, Chepstow stages the DragonBet Welsh Racing Festival, three days of jump racing from Friday 9 to Sunday 11 October.

The £80,000 DragonBet Persian War Novices’ Hurdle returns, and the Sunday card brings the £50,000 DragonBet Welsh Champion Hurdle back to Chepstow, four consecutive days with Welsh racing centre stage.

Ffos Las follows with its own jump season opener on Wednesday 14 October, a six-race all-chase card with the first race at 1.45pm.

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