The 2024 horse racing calendar is about to ramp up, with some stellar meetings throughout the entirety of the festive period providing plenty to get excited about. On boxing day, the King George VI Chase will take centre stage at Kempton, a race that Il Est Francais has been made a 3/1 frontrunner to win. The following day, it’s the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow, another marquee event on the festive sporting calendar.
As the season continues, three frontrunners have emerged to claim the British Jump Jockey Championship, while horse racing’s popularity continues to soar to never-before-seen heights.
The Rise of Horse Racing Popularity
In recent years, horse racing has captured the interest of a broader audience thanks to investment from countries in the Arabian Gulf, as well as the continued success of marquee showdowns such as the Grand National and the Cheltenham Festival. This surge in attention has prompted online bookmakers to invest even more in their racing offering, making virtual horse racing available to their punters around the clock.
This relatively new addition allows fans to engage with the sport anytime and anywhere. This innovation not only caters to seasoned racing enthusiasts but also attracts new fans eager to experience the excitement of getting closer to the race track than ever before. Bookies provide round-the-clock updates on their virtual horses results, and if they are anything similar to the results seen in real life, then one will notice three jockeys standing out from the crowd with more wins than the rest.
With that being said, let’s meet the two jockeys that have piled up the wins this term and explore their chances of winning the jockey championship this season.
A brilliant finish to the Boodles Rising Stars Novices’ Chase as Boombawn wears down Soul Icon under a great ride from Harry Skelton@harryskelton89 | @DSkeltonRacing pic.twitter.com/7OItDpF3K2
— Wincanton Racecourse (@wincantonraces) November 9, 2024
Harry Skelton
Harry Skelton’s prowess on the track is evident with his impressive record this season. With 78 wins from 298 runs, the 35-year-old showcases a striking strike rate that marks him as a formidable contender. Highlights of his season include a thrilling victory with Getawhisky at Carlisle, where he manoeuvred with class to secure the win.
Equally as impressive was his performance on board Boombawn at Wincanton in a Grade 2 chase that demonstrated his ability to deliver under pressure, taking full advantage of short-priced favourite Insurrection’s poor run to claim the victory. Now, Skelton has positioned himself as the jockey to beat, while trainer Dan Skelton is also well positioned in the trainer’s championship as well.
Sean Bowen
Sean Bowen’s journey this season has been nothing short of spectacular. Capturing 75 wins from 432 runs, he has proven that he is not just a participant but a true competitor in every race. One of his standout performances was with Pyramid Place at Kempton Park, where his strategic approach clinched a resounding win. Last season, Bowen amassed a total of 157 winners, including two prestigious Grade One victories and a memorable triumph at the Aintree Festival. Similar form throughout the rest of the 2024/25 season could throw a spanner into Team Skelton’s hopes of a championship clean sweep.
