SEAN BOWEN is hoping to win the Grand National this Saturday, despite being allergic horses.
The 27-year-old will be riding 20-1 shot Three Card Brag at Aintree.
The Welshman, who will be riding for trainer , reached 1,000 winners back in February.
But life as a top-level jockey was not always on the cards for Bowen, despite his parents Peter and Karen being long-time trainers.
Speaking to the BBC, Bowen admitted: “I still am [allergic to horses] now a little bit, it's a bit of a weird one.
“If dad would come in from clipping and there'd be horse hair everywhere, I'd be itching for days.
“Even now, sometimes if I spend all morning round horses, I'd be sneezing for the rest of the day.”
Despite his family's connection to racing, Bowen preferred as a kid.
But when his brothers stopped going for kickabouts with him, Bowen finally took up the family business.
He added: “I can't say I grew up loving it. I enjoyed football until I was around 11. I started riding when I was about 10.
“I suppose both my brothers got into riding ponies, and then I had no-one to play football with, so I had to get on the ponies instead.”
Bowen's younger brother James will also be competing in this Saturday's .
The 22-year-old will be riding Chantry House in the showpiece race.
On having his brother also riding in the National, Bowen added: “It's amazing – very few people get to have their brother in a changing room with them every day.
“When he started riding, he pushed me to do better.
“It's something quite unique that we're both doing something that we're both successful at.”
