PEMBROKESHIRE jockey Sean Bowen could be part of a historic all-Welsh showdown when he lines up in the Cheltenham Gold Cup later this week.

Bowen and fellow Welsh rider Ben Jones are set to go head-to-head in jump racing’s most prestigious race on Friday — the showpiece event on the final day of the Cheltenham Festival.

In what is believed to be the first time in living memory, two Welsh jockeys will ride leading contenders in the famous race, which is widely regarded as the pinnacle of National Hunt racing.

Champion jockey Bowen will partner Haiti Couleurs, the Welsh Grand National winner trained in Newport, Pembrokeshire, by leading trainer Rebecca Curtis.

Jones will ride the unbeaten The Jukebox Man, a rapidly rising star trained by Ben Pauling and owned by former football manager Harry Redknapp.

Both jockeys developed their careers on Welsh racecourses such as Ffos Las and Chepstow, but Cheltenham now offers a chance for glory on one of the sport’s biggest stages.

With the Gold Cup traditionally dominated by Irish-trained horses and runners from the largest British yards, the prospect of two Welsh jockeys battling for victory has become one of the most talked-about stories in Welsh racing ahead of the Festival.

Both arrive at Cheltenham with genuine hopes in what many pundits believe is one of the most open renewals of the race in recent years.

For Bowen, who looks set to retain his Champion Jockey title this season, the Gold Cup represents the ultimate prize.

The Little Newcastle native believes Haiti Couleurs has the stamina and temperament needed for Cheltenham’s gruelling test.

“You never know till the day, he’ll definitely love the track. He’ll definitely stay very, very well. And look, he’s a very, very good horse,” said Bowen.

“Hopefully he’s the best on the day. But you never know going into those races — I think it’s probably the widest open Gold Cup there’s been in a long time. Hopefully we’re thereabouts.”

Haiti Couleurs carries perhaps the strongest Welsh storyline. Trained by Curtis on the beaches near Newport, the nine-year-old is attempting to become only the second Welsh-trained horse ever to win the Gold Cup.

The only previous Welsh success came in 1990 when the 100-1 outsider Norton’s Coin produced one of the biggest shocks in the race’s history.

Unlike that famous upset, Haiti Couleurs arrives with strong credentials after winning the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow in December.

Already a Cheltenham Festival winner after landing last season’s National Hunt Chase, the powerful staying chaser has continued to improve and heads to the race among the leading contenders following victory in the Grade Two Denman Chase at Newbury earlier this year.

Curtis said the horse could hardly have done more in his final preparation for the Festival.

“I was delighted — I don’t really think he could have done any more,” she said.

“He was lonely in front, jumping that horrible ground. It just looked like he was in third gear and then when something came to him, he quickened away and jumped nicely up the straight and sort of put the race to bed, which is what we wanted.

“I didn’t want him to have an overly hard race with Cheltenham so close, so I was very pleased.”

Curtis believes the horse’s steady improvement over the past two seasons has turned him into a genuine Gold Cup contender.

“He’s been amazing, he’s run some real legendary type races — the Irish National and the Welsh National. To be going into the Gold Cup with single-figure odds is amazing,” she added.

“We always thought he was a very nice horse as a young horse, but he’s just improved with every single run.

“He wouldn’t be one of those you’d work at home and go ‘wow’, but like Sean said, you put three miles and fences in front of him and he comes alive.”

Haiti Couleurs’ proven stamina in marathon contests — including victories in the Irish Grand National and Welsh Grand National — suggests the punishing three miles and two furlongs of the Gold Cup could play directly to his strengths.

While Haiti Couleurs represents a traditional staying powerhouse, Jones arrives at Cheltenham with one of the most exciting young chasers currently in training.

The Jukebox Man has won all four of his starts over fences, including a breakthrough victory in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.

Jones — whose father Dai is clerk of the course at Chepstow — has ridden the horse in each of those victories and has developed a strong bond with the unbeaten chaser.

“I wouldn’t swap him for any other horse in the race,” he said.

“It’s a bit annoying that it’s on the Friday and I’ll have to wait all week to get my leg up on him, but it’s very, very exciting.

“He’s never let me down, and I’ve won on him every time I’ve sat on him.”

This year’s race promises to be fiercely competitive.

Leading Irish contender Galopin Des Champs has been ruled out, but Inothewayurthinkin brings proven Grade One form and strong Festival credentials, ensuring the traditional Irish challenge remains formidable.

However, many observers believe the race lacks a clear dominant favourite, giving both Bowen and Jones a realistic chance of success.

If either rider manages to guide their mount up the famous Cheltenham hill in front on Friday afternoon, it would mark a landmark moment for Welsh racing — and one of the standout stories of this year’s Festival.

A POPULAR community football tournament returned to Pembrokeshire this weekend as teams from across south Wales gathered for the annual Fishguard Thunderbolts event.

The tournament, hosted this year at Letterston AFC, brought players, referees and supporters together for a day of friendly competition and community spirit.

Organised by Brian Millard, the event has become a firm fixture in the local football calendar, attracting teams from across the region. Sides travelled from Rhondda Cynon Taf, Swansea and Bridgend to take part, alongside local teams including Clarbeston Road and the Fishguard Thunderbolts themselves.

Those attending described the tournament as a celebration of football at its most positive, with players and spectators focusing on enjoyment, sportsmanship and looking out for one another throughout the day.

Referees from the Pembrokeshire Referees’ Society also supported the event, helping to ensure the matches ran smoothly. One of the officials assisting on the day thanked fellow referee Tony for helping out, adding that it was a pleasure to be involved in such a positive community event.

Organiser Brian Millard was praised for his continued commitment to running the tournament, which many participants say is one of the highlights of their year.

The event once again highlighted how grassroots football can bring people together, creating a welcoming atmosphere where the focus is on enjoyment, teamwork and community.

Organisers are already looking forward to welcoming teams back again next year.

Pics: Marty Jones

WREXHAM continues to be a happy hunting ground for Jeremy Cross who last week reclaimed the British Open Masters Indoor Championships title he won in 2024.

Competing in the men’s over 50s singles category for the first time, Cross from Haverfordwest Tennis Club was seeded fourth.

After a first-round bye, Cross defeated Nick Baglin in the round of 16 in what he admits was his hardest match of the championship.

Baglin had been a contemporary of Tim Henman who once played in the Australian Open and Queens qualifying, but Cross showed his class to triumph 6-2, 3-6, 6-4.

Cross needed only two sets to beat Antony Heljula in the quarter-final (6-4, 6-1) before meeting the top seed Nigel Birkett in the last four. Cross recovered from losing the first set 6-2 to take the second and third 6-3, 6-2.

A familiar face awaited in the final, last year’s doubles partner Hafeez Hameed and despite Cross winning 6-4, 6-2, the battle lasted almost two hours.

A delighted Cross said: “It’s my seventh national title and my first in the over 50s so hopefully I can win a few more soon while I’m still the spring chicken of my age group!

“My result in Wrexham should also qualify me for the GB team to play the World Championships in Rome in June which will be the highlight of my tennis year.

“It’s been a challenge with our weather and lack of indoor courts this winter, so I’ve focused more on physical training which actually helped get me through some of the longer matches this week.

“However, a big thanks when I have played goes to my practice partners at Haverfordwest Tennis Club, head coach Tom Richards and my son William, as well as to the rest of my family and the whole club for their ongoing support.”