Bowen four-timer features half-brother to Douvan and Jonbon

On the eve of being crowned champion jockey for the first time, Sean Bowen lit up Perth with a four-timer, with bumper winner Wilstar justifying his tall reputation.

As a half-brother to multiple Grade One winners Douvan and Jonbon, Olly Murphy’s youngster has plenty to live up to.

Sent off favourite for his debut at Warwick, he finished third, form franked by the winner subsequently, and the punters kept the faith, making him the 6-4 market leader in the Goodbye Charlo Thanks For Everything Open National Hunt Flat Race.

Wilstar briefly looked in a bit of bother but found an impressive turn of foot to go and win by three lengths.

Both Bowen and Murphy celebrated four winners. They teamed up in the opening Campbell & Son Roofing Novices’ Hurdle on Junker d’Allier (4-7 favourite) and the Alastair Down Novices’ Handicap Chase with Heard That (5-2 favourite).

Bowen also rode Fairlawn Flyer (11-4 favourite) to what looked an unlikely success in the QuinnBet Highland National Handicap Chase for his father and brother, Peter and Michael, while Murphy employed Lewis Saunders to win on Wa Wa (15-2) in the Campbell & Son Roofing Handicap Hurdle.