Holloway Queen Gives James Bowen His First Cheltenham Festival Victory

James Bowen had been waiting his whole career for this moment, and when Holloway Queen powered clear on the run-in to win the National Hunt Steeple Chase Challenge Cup Novices' Handicap Chase by five-and-a-half lengths, the 25-year-old finally had his Cheltenham Festival winner. The 12/1 shot, trained by Nicky Henderson, made it look almost easy over the 3m 6f trip, pulling clear to give Bowen the milestone he had chased through injury and ban alike.

The result carried extra weight given what Bowen had endured to get here. He missed the entirety of last year's Festival, sidelined by a seven-day suspension for excessive whipping and separate injuries. "I have been injured twice and got banned last year," he told Racing TV. "I have not had a clear run at it. I am glad we went for it in the end."

The race itself played out almost exactly as a Henderson-trained mare in form should. Pic Roc, ridden by fellow Welsh jockey Ben Jones, set the early gallop but had run out of fuel well before the finish, weakening in the final mile. That left Bowen with a decision to make at the third-last fence, and Holloway Queen answered the question emphatically. "When I jumped three out, I got in close to it and my arse hit the saddle and she took off," Bowen said. "Once I got past the horse in front, I thought, something's bound to come and catch me, but we went fast enough that there weren't any finishers."

He had even harboured doubts beforehand about the ground. "We always thought this mare was better on soft ground until today. I was actually a bit negative on her beforehand because of the ground," he admitted. The result suggested she simply wants a trip, regardless of conditions. "She was incredible to jump," Bowen said. "That is the best she ever jumped for me. She got into a lovely rhythm."

The family dimension gave the win an additional layer. James is the first of the Bowen brothers from Pembrokeshire to land a Festival winner, beating older brother Sean, the reigning champion jockey, to that distinction. Sean finished sixth aboard Wade Out, then crossed the track to embrace James after the line. Trainer-brother Mickey Bowen also had a runner in the same race, with Holokea finishing eighth. "You always dream of having Festival and Aintree winners," James said.

For Henderson, the victory closed a perfect bracket on his day. He had opened the card by saddling Old Park Star to win the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle, and Holloway Queen's success in the concluding contest bookended it entirely. Two winners, first race to last, at the sport's most scrutinised meeting.

Bowen put it simply when asked how it felt: "It's great to get a winner on the first day, and I suppose a bit of redemption for last year." At 25, with a first Festival winner already on the board and four days of the meeting still to come, he will be hoping there is considerably more to come.