THE Pembrokeshire village of Little Newcastle had plenty to cheer about when the father and son horse racing duo of Sean and Peter Bowen combined to capture the Bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown races on Saturday.

The 40-1 shot Henllan Harri, trained by Peter and ridden by his son Sean, made most of the running and held on from the Henderson-trained Vyta Du Roc, with Theatre Guide third.

Four pounds out of the handicap, the outsider made all the running, and kept a rapidly closing field at bay up the Sandown hill, under an inspired Sean Bowen for owner Einsley Harries.

This was Peter Bowen’s yard 40th winner of the season, and the second victory in the famous race for jockey Sean, who ends his brilliant season with 79 winners.

After the race popular Pembrokeshire trainer Peter Bowen said: “That makes it twice as special with Sean riding. He only had 10st, which helped, but he was 4lb out of the handicap. I thought he would be in the first six.

“He ran above himself, I would say. We were a bit worried as he has always jumped a bit left but he jumped really straight.

“On that form, if he goes up higher enough he could be seen as a National horse.”