Paul Bowman

Paul Bowman

Article by Alan Trout

A conditional jockey with Peter Hayward, who trained near Salisbury, Paul Bowman rode four winners under National Hunt rules in the mid-1980s.

He made the best possible start when his first ride, Black Sheep, took the lead two flights from home and ran on to beat Been Mugged by a length and a half in the Ladbroke Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle at Wincanton on October 30, 1986. The nine-year-old, trained by Ian Dudgeon, was winning his first race. They were unable to follow up, being placed fourth twice in their three subsequent starts together. 

It was almost a year before Paul rode another winner, but at Taunton on October 22, 1987 he landed the most valuable prize of the day when Ribovino, trained by Paul Hayward, caught the Peter Scudamore-ridden Rainbow Lady near the line and landed the Lansdowne Flyol Handicap Hurdle by a short head. 

They followed up just seven days later in the Sparplas Windows Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle at Wincanton, beating Redgrave Devil by a length and a half, having taken the lead two flights out. Paul retained the ride, finishing third three times on their next five starts. 

Wiltshire Yeoman gave him his last success when landing the St John Ambulance Challenge Cup Handicap Hurdle for conditional jockeys at Newton Abbot on December 1, 1987. Martin Pipe had been the trainer of Rainbow Lady, narrowly beaten by Ribovino at Taunton, and it was another of his charges, KO Island, who fell at the last flight when leading, that mishap enabling Paul to win his fourth and final race. 

Paul Bowman’s winners were, in chronological order:

1. Black Sheep, Wincanton, October 30, 1986

2. Ribovino, Taunton, October 22, 1987

3. Ribovino, Wincanton, October 29, 1987

4. Wiltshire Yeoman, Newton Abbot, December 1, 1987