On the way to Leicester, Bowen learned about his victory

Sean D Bowen's name is now in the record books as a Cesarewitch-winning jockey, but his celebration was delayed. Instead of rejoicing at the finish line, Bowen learned of his victory while driving to Leicester on Tuesday.

Irish contender Alphonse Le Grande had narrowly beaten Bowen’s mount, Manxman, at Newmarket. However, it soon emerged that Alphonse Le Grande’s jockey, Jamie Powell, had breached the whip rules. The Whip Review Committee confirmed that Powell had used his whip 10 times, leading to disqualification. This promoted Manxman to first place, giving Bowen the win.

Reflecting on the moment, Bowen said, "There was excitement on Tuesday when I got the call. I’ve never been as happy going racing after hearing that news! It’s one of the biggest handicaps in England, and everyone wants to win it."

While Bowen was thrilled with the outcome, he admitted it was bittersweet to miss the post-race celebration at Newmarket. Competing for the apprentice title against Joe Leavy, Bowen remarked that winning on the day would have been the perfect way to cap off his season.

He added, "I didn’t realise the extent of the whip issue until later. Waiting for the decision was nerve-wracking, but it worked out in our favour."

Bowen believes future high-profile races should address such situations immediately, ensuring results are decided on the day.