Jockey Sean Bowen ‘millimetres from crushing his skull’ in horrific Fontwell fall

PUNTERS were certain a higher power was looking down on Sean Bowen after he came ‘millimetres from having his skull crushed’ in this terrifying Fontwell fall.

Last season’s champion jockey runner-up could not get to grips with 18-1 Princess Unique in a Class 5 mares’ handicap hurdle last night.

Bowen was flung to the floor when Princess Unique jinked back and forth at the first

As he rolled onto his back a horse behind came mere millimetres from crushing his skull

Incredibly, Bowen’s head went in between the horse’s stride, miraculously saving him from injury

The pair shot off into the lead in the 2m3f contest – but things rapidly took a turn for the worse approaching the first flight.

Princess Unique – a maiden returning from a 233-day break – jinked left and right before veering sharply left again a stride before the hurdle.

Poor Bowen had no chance of holding on and was catapulted forward over the jump.

He slammed into the turf with his right arm but it was as the force of the fall turned him onto his back that his life surely flashed before his eyes.

Bowen lay helpless as 8-1 Hey Day Baby came galloping directly towards his face from behind.

Amazingly, the horse’s right front hoof appeared to clip the bill of his cap while her right trail leg almost walloped him as well.

Commenting on Sky Sports Racing, former Grand National winner Mick Fitzgerald said: “He is literally millimetres away from crushing his skull.”

Incredibly the drama didn’t stop there.

The riderless Princess Unique kept running with the field and forced another jockey to later unseat in dramatic fashion.

Brendan Powell was making a move on the JP McManus-owned 5-1 Jamaicaine approaching the second from home.

But Princess Unique cut across wildly from the jockeys’ right and completely took out Jamaicaine.

Powell had nowhere to go but down – and was luckily out of the way of the two runners coming from behind.

Miraculously, none of the jockeys or horses were injured.

And Bowen was shown getting to his feet and walking off unscathed.

Punters could not believe how lucky he had been – adding the whole incident showed just how brave these jockeys are to face such risks day in, day out.

One said: “Bloody hell… someone was looking down on him there. One lucky boy.”

Another commented: “Lottery ticket on the way home @Sean_Bowen_.”

While a third wrote: “I take my hat off to these boys, brave as lions! That could have been awful.”

Sadly it wasn’t all lucky escapes on Wednesday, however.

Day one of the Chester May Festival was overshadowed by the heartbreaking death of Hidden Law.

The Charlie Appleby-trained, Godolphin-owned colt had just thrashed the field in the Chester Vase – one of the key trials for the Epsom Derby.

But he sadly went wrong just yards after passing the post and had to be put down.

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