Dineur Sneaks Up on His Rivals

The Bowen family has cause to celebrate, as young jockeys and trainers shine.

THE Grand National may have gone to Scotland but the Fox Hunters’ went west — to Wales.

Dineur, trained by Mickey Bowen, 21, (comment, right) finished one better than he had 12 months ago, beating the fastfinishing Irish runner Balnaslow by a length and three-quarters.

Dineur, ridden by James King, had finished eight lengths second to On The Fringe a year ago but, at 16-1, was largely over-looked this time, particularly as the Bowen family have such a good record round the National fences — father Peter has won the Topham four times while brother Sean is also a winner over the big fences.

On The Fringe never got into the race this time and was eventually pulled up by Jamie Codd. While there were plenty in with chances at the last, it was Dineur who stayed on strongest to lead at “the elbow”, with enough in the tank to repel Derek O’Connor on Balnaslow.