Hugh Bowman and Vincent Ho Chak-yiu claimed the final two slots in the Longines International Jockeys’ Championship (IJC) on December 10 with a trio of winners between them on a dramatic night at Happy Valley on Wednesday.

Bowman needed a winner to leapfrog Luke Ferraris and he almost took the initiative straight away when Flow Water Flow missed by a nose behind Somelovefromabove in section one of the Class Four Glenfinnan Viaduct Handicap (1,200m).

Remarkably, Bowman then missed again by a nose in the following race, section three of the Class Four Brig O’Doon Handicap (1,200m), and he could have been forgiven for thinking it wasn’t his night in the race for the IJC.

Eventually things dropped right for the 45-year-old and perhaps fittingly, he led home Ferraris by a neck to win the Class Four Kylesku Bridge Handicap (1,650m) aboard Allcash to wrestle the slot away at the final hour.

“It’s always a privilege to ride in the IJC and I came here tonight with some strong chances and we had a really good night,” Bowman said. “I’m really pleased with that.

“Allcash was strong. He trialled well recently and his better form is on the all-weather track – we were aware of that – but he’s got points in hand and he showed that tonight.”

The fight for the local riders' spot also went right down to the wire, with Jerry Chau Chun-lok needing one win more than Ho to leapfrog him.

It was Chau who poked his head in front when Meowth scuttled up the rail to collect section two of the Class Four Clyde Arc Handicap (1,200m).

The pair always travelled ominously well in the box seat and when the gap opened up in the straight, Chau used all his strength to force the Cody Mo Wai-kit-trained galloper to the front in the final strides.

“This horse is a thinker and sometimes you need to remind him to keep his mind on the job,” Chau said. “Tonight, once he relaxed and focused, he was able to show his best.”

Unfortunately for Chau there was a sting in the tail, with Ho riding a superb race to get The Boom Box home in front in the Class Three Glen Ogle Viaduct Handicap (1,650m) for trainer Chris So Wai-yin.

A step up in trip worked the oracle, with Ho settling towards the rear before unleashing his mount widest of all to collar King Lotus late, and So was full of praise for his rider’s suggestion.

“It was a good idea from the jockey. When I asked Vincent whether the horse needed further he told me yes,” said So. “It seemed like last time over 1,400m, the horse couldn’t catch the pace and that’s why he suggested we go further.

“I think the horse maybe wants even further, possibly 1,800m, but I wanted to stay safe and go through 1,650m first. He seems more relaxed now and can handle more distance.”

Ho put the exclamation point on the evening when getting King Miles up to win the concluding Class Three Culloden Bridge Handicap (1,200m) for trainer Francis Lui Kin-wai.

On a night where eight of the nine races were settled by a neck or less, King Miles scrambled in for the closest finish of them all, with six horses finishing within half a length and his mount getting up by the barest of noses.

“It means a lot and each winner, I’m really grateful for the horse, owner and trainer for the trust. After seven months and the comeback, there are a lot of uncertainties,” said Ho.

“I want to thank all of the medical teams, my sports psychologist, the people in Switzerland who helped me and, of course, the [Hong Kong Jockey] Club for their support.

“I do feel extremely grateful for this and this is what I want to do, especially this year. [The] line-up is really great with great jockeys and a lot of friends. The winning year [2023] was great but this one to be racing together with this group of jockeys is really meaningful.

“I want to ride the best I can and repay the support the owners, trainers and the Club have given me.”

There was also a double on the night for jockey James McDonald, who struck aboard the Danny Shum Chap-shing-trained Legend Star in the Class Five Forth Road Bridge Handicap (1,200m) and Ocean Impact for Douglas Whyte in the Class Four St Andrew’s Challenge Quaich (1,800m).

Shum also doubled up thanks to Allcash’s earlier win in the Kylesku Bridge Handicap.

Meanwhile, Ryan Moore is expected to be cleared to ride in the IJC after recovering from a broken femur.