Hugh Bowman is upbeat about his chances of claiming a second Longines International Jockeys’ Championship (IJC) on Wednesday night, but Zac Purton doesn’t share the same confidence in his bid for a historic fourth title.

Bowman received a confidence boost at Monday’s crucial allocation of rides for the prestigious Happy Valley contest, with his four mounts including Tony Cruz’s last-start winners Gustosisimo and Lovero and the consistent Jumbo Fortune.

Gustosisimo is one of six last-start winners in the fourth and final leg of the IJC, a quality 1,200m sprint at Class Three level.

Lovero won on protest at the Valley last start but has drawn wide in barrier 11 in Wednesday night’s third leg, a Class Three over 1,650m, while Jumbo Fortune tackles the second leg off the back of four placings from five starts for new trainer David Eustace this season.

“I’ve got a couple of very good rides, but the fields are very good,” Bowman said.

“I thought Gustosisimo and Jumbo Fortune were good rides – they’re the pick of mine. Both are genuine winning chances and if not winning, all-important placings. We’ll see how we go.

“Lovero’s drawn a little wide coming off a narrow win on protest. He’s going to need a bit of luck, I would have thought.”

Two-start maiden Notthesillyone is the first ride in this year’s series for Bowman, who won the IJC in 2016.

After battling a winning drought of 46 rides in November, the top Australian rider bounced back with a timely treble at Sha Tin on Sunday.

“We had a couple of quiet meetings where my horses didn’t run well at all, but the last five or six meetings, despite not winning a race, I was around the money and then I’ve had a couple of good days leading into this week,” Bowman said.

“I’m feeling good. [My IJC win in 2016] was a fair while ago, but it’s a great competition to be part of. I’ve ridden in it many times and I’m honoured to be representing Hong Kong this year.”

In contrast to Bowman’s confidence, Purton felt his chances of becoming the first jockey to win four IJC titles were dealt a blow when he was assigned Sight Happy, Charming Steed, Aestheticism and Giant Leap.

“I would have preferred a bit more quality there,” said Purton, who shares the IJC record with Frankie Dettori and Douglas Whyte.

“I never seem to draw too well unfortunately. I think I’ve got my work cut out for me. Giant Leap has come out of a weak Class Four on a biased track where he jumped well in front and took advantage of that. Now he’s up in grade.

“Charming Steed has only ever won in Class Five and he’s in Class Four and hasn’t raced for however long. They’re not normally the horses you’d be zeroing in on in those races. But you can’t change it, you’ve just got to try and work with it.”

A last-start Valley winner back in June, Charming Steed returns from a cannon bone injury sustained in August.

His trainer, Caspar Fownes, and Purton will team up for just the second time since September 2021. They combined in last year’s final leg of the IJC with Kaholo Angel, who ran a close second.