By Will Lefebve

Mention the name Dylan and most people would conjure up an image of Dylan Thomas, or maybe Bob Dylan.

But here is another, especially for racing followers, to put into the mix – Sean Dylan Bowen, Irish teenage riding sensation who lit up Brighton races yesterday with the wins from three rides for a 27-1 treble, taking him clear of main rival Joe Leavy in the battle for the 2024 apprentices title.

Bowen rides with the middle name Dylan to differentiate from leading Welsh jumps rider Sean Bowen, who finished runner-up to Harry Cobden in last season’s National Hunt title race.

Ironically, the middle leg of STB’s three-timer came on a horse called Fighting Poet (our Nap selection) who made it two wins from his last three Brighton visits for Richard Phillips’s Oxfordshire stable.

But it was a close thing as the six-year-old came from last to first before pipping Clear Justice in a rousing final.

Before Fighting Poet, the Irishman had enjoyed an exercise canter with Usuario Amigo at 1-6 and the latter’s shrewd trainer James Owen was back in the winners’ enclosure after Laser Focus had mugged hot favourite Saint Riquier.

Talk about “saying grace” before a meal! Newmarket trainer Phil McEntee screamed “Come on Grace!” at least a dozen times in the closing stages of the opening apprentice handicap because the winning rider on the 33-1 chance Marching Mac was his daughter Grace.

McEntee, who admitted to “having a nice few quid” on his horse explained afterwards: “It’s Grace’s first winner since she came back from breaking her collarbone in the summer. I’m really thrilled for her and it’s great to saddle a first winner for the Racefield Racing Club, who own Marching Mac.”

Picture Darren Cool