Merrigan 'leaves' Bowen yard

Mercurial conditional jockey Paddy Merrigan has 'effectively left' the Peter Bowen yard according to the trainer's wife Helen.

Mercurial conditional jockey Paddy Merrigan has 'effectively left' the Peter Bowen yard according to the trainer's wife Helen. Merrigan, who is currently leading the conditional jockeys' title with 21 winners, has not ridden for main employer Bowen since partnering Markington at Ascot on December 21. The Irishman was apparently unhappy at being 'jocked off' high profile rides on Special Envoy and Saturday's Challow Hurdle winner Souffleur, turning down a ride for Bowen at Catterick on Friday. "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." Merrigan has already had a colourful career that saw him spring to prominence with a series of cool rides for Heather Dalton, but was kicked out following an incident with an air rifle. The talented 21-year-old also had periods with Pat Haslam and Paul Nicholls, but found himself too far down the pecking order with the champion trainer.