Bowen hits career high number of winners at Warwick
Gwennie May Star won for the second time since joining Wilmcote trainer Olly Murphy when coming clear under an inspired ride by champion jockey Sean Bowen to take Warwick's Betano Boosted Odds Every UK Race Handicap Hurdle.
Hugging the inside throughout the race, Gwennie May Star still had six horses in front of him on the home turn, but he was closing approaching the final flight where Bowen decided to switch positions and, with a clear run ahead, Gwennie May Star put daylight between himself and the rest to bring up a career-best 181 winners for his rider.
Favourite backers got off to a flying start when Feel Gut, trained by Nicky Henderson, led all the way in the opening Hazelton Mountford Insurance Brokers EBF Junior "National Hunt" Hurdle, beating Majeur Allen by 6½ lengths. Jumping boldly in the hands of Nico de Boinville, Feel Gut built on the promise of his first run at Auteuil in October and was cut to 12-1 by bookmakers Paddy Power for the JCB Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
Trainer Dan Skelton was without a runner in the Best Odds Guaranteed At Betano Mares' Novices' Hurdle, leaving brother Harry free to take the ride on Jackie Hobbs for Harry Derham. Sent off the 11/10 favourite, Jackie Hobbs, who was dropping down from Listed class, collared long-time leader Betty's Daisy on the run-in to win by a length.
Jour d'Evasion, trained by Henry Daly and ridden by David Bass, defied top weight of 11-12 to land the Class 3 Betano Backing British Racing Novices' Limited Handicap Chase. It was Epic West, carrying 17lb less, who had led turning for home but, despite jumping the last fence in front, he was worn down by the hat-trick seeking Jour d'Evasion who put his head in front close to the winning line to prevail by half a length.
Jukebox Joker overcame a 281-day absence when making all the running in the hands of Isabel Williams to beat favourite Pottersmattyeeehaa in the David Launchbury Memorial Novices' Limited Handicap Hurdle before House Of Habsburg, runner-up over the course in December, landed the long-distance Bet 10 Get 30 At Betano Handicap Chase for trainer Christian Williams and jockey Jack Tudor, successful in the race for the second year running.
Dan Skelton doesn't often leave Warwick without a winner and he looked to have a good chance of taking the closing Willoughby De Broke Open Hunters' Chase with even-money favourite Jet Plane, but he parted company with Heidi Palin in the back straight leaving the way clear for 4/1 shot Golden Son and Olive Nicholls to come home a comfortable winner.
On Saturday, as he passed £3m in prize money for the season, Skelton saddled two winners at Cheltenham's Trials Day when unbeaten Maestro Conti and Champion Hurdle hope The New Lion both won valuable prizes, but Grey Dawning, on target for the Boodles Gold Cup, was beaten after making a mistake at the penultimate fence.