Sean Bowen in line for Banbridge King George mount

Champion jockey Sean Bowen looks set to take the coveted spare ride on last year’s winner Banbridge in the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase.

Paul Townend steered Joseph O’Brien’s nine-year-old to festive glory at Kempton 12 months ago, but the Closutton number one will be required by his boss Willie Mullins this time around leaving the Owning Hill handler reaching out for the current leading light of the UK weighing room.

O’Brien told the Nick Luck Daily podcast: “It looks most likely Sean Bowen will ride him at this stage.

“Obviously there is a lot of moving parts over those few days, but it looks like Sean Bowen will probably ride him and it looks a great renewal of the race, but it’s exciting to be going with one of the contenders.”

As well as a new pilot, Banbridge is also likely to sport a visor on Boxing Day, with O’Brien confident his candidate can take a step forward from his recent Cork reappearance in the Hilly Way Chase.

The trainer added: “He had two runs heading into Kempton last year whereas he will only have had one this year and his reappearance was probably similar to his reappearance last year.

“We think he’s come forward well for that run and he will enjoy going back up in distance on better ground. He’s going to have probably a visor for the first time and we’re looking forward to competing in what is a particularly strong renewal of the King George.”