Merrigan leaves Bowen yard

Leading conditional jockey Paddy Merrigan has “effectively left” Peter Bowen’s yard in Pembrokeshire, England.

Merrigan has ridden 21 winners this season after linking up with Bowen this summer.

However, the 21-year-old did not ride Special Envoy in the Long Walk Hurdle on December 22, while Tom O’Brien partnered Souffleur to victory in Saturday’s Challow Hurdle at Newbury.

“We have not seen Paddy since last Saturday but we don’t want to give him any bad publicity,” Helen Bowen, wife of the Haverfordwest-based handler, told the Racing Post.

“However, I suppose he has effectively left the yard.

“There has been no falling-out with him but he is not with us any more.”