Champ helps Dai get on scoresheet

DAI Rees's unwavering faith in Sean Bowen reaped its reward when the duo teamed up for a West Wales success at Ffos Las last week.

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Champion jockey Bowen rang his fellow Pembrokeshire native Rees asking for the ride on Esperti in a three-mile handicap chase.

And the 6-1 chance was given the maximum assistance from the saddle from Bowen, with the combination taking up the lead approaching the final fence and repelling the challenge of favourite Try The Money on the run-in.

Trainer Rees, who was saddling his second winner of the current campaign, said: “After his last run at Newton Abbot he gave us a bit of hope. We came here confident.

“Sean is amazing, that's why he's champion.

“He is unbelievable. He phoned up and said ‘can I ride him’ When you get the offer of a champion jockey, you take it”

Esperti was the second leg of a treble for Bowen, who has a huge lead at the top of the jump jockeys’ title race and has not ruled out the possibility of riding 300 winners in a season.

His treble was triggered by victory on There Runs Mary, sent off at 1-33 which made her the shortest-priced favourite in the track’s 16-year history.