Unexpected hurdle for Hugh Bowman

Don’t be surprised if Hugh Bowman returns from his overseas working holiday with a jump in his step.

The top jockey, who won the Sydney premiership in 2008/09, has revealed a surprising ambition to ride over the hurdles and it might happen as soon as next week.

Bowman, who rode three winners on the flat at Salisbury and Doncaster racecourses in England last weekend, is trying to get a clearance to ride in a jumps race at Newton Abbey, in England’s southeast, on Monday.

“I’ve actually got a good friend whose got a hurdler that won at 80-1 that’s running at Newton Abbey on the fourth of July so I’m just looking in to see if I can’t get a licence to go over the sticks,” Bowman said on Sky Sports Radio on Wednesday.

“If that was to come to fruition I’d really enjoy the opportunity to ride in a hurdle race.

“It’s something I’ve always thought I’d like to have a go of.

“Obviously, being Sydney-based it hasn’t been a realistic option in Australia but certainly over here (it is).

“And like I said, it’s a friend’s horse so there wouldn’t be too much pressure.”

Bowman added that if he was unable to obtain a licence to ride in hurdle races he hoped to at least get the chance to school his friend’s horse – whose name he was unsure of – over fences.

Bowman travelled to England earlier this month to team up with trainer Mick Channon for a working holiday.

Two of his weekend winners were for Channon with the other being for former South Australian trainer Jeremy Gask.

Bowman capped his good weekend by being named in the Rest of the World team to compete in the annual Shergar Cup jockeys’ challenge at Ascot on August 6.

AAP TURF