Coral Welsh National |
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| Handicap Chase, Chepstow 13:45 Grade 3, £120,000 added, 5yo plus, 3m 5f 110y, Class 1  |
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| Saturday 9th January 2016 | |
1 Mountainous 9/1
2 Firebird Flyer 25/1
3 Shotgun Paddy 12/1
4 Saroque 33/1
5 Woodford County 12/1
20 ran Distances: 2¾l, 11l, 8l
TIME 8m 26.60s (slow by 61.60s)
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Racing off a 5lb lower mark than when successful two years ago, Mountainous stayed on dourly to beat Firebird Flyer and will now be aimed at the Grand National at Aintree by first-season trainer Kerry Lee.
Mountainous became the first horse since Bonanza Boy in 1989 to win the Coral Welsh Grand National for a second time, as well as being the first 11-year-old since Happy Spring in the 1960s to lift the prestigious prize, when he relished the muddy conditions to supplement his success in December 2013.
"Mountainous is great. He ate all his supper last night, polished off his breakfast and he has been enjoying some sunshine out in the field," said the Presteigne trainer, who took over the reins of the family stables from her father Richard in July.
"I don't know if he will have a run before the National. I'll wait and see how he comes out of this race.
"We're not going to make any plans. We'll just see how we go.
"The long-term target is the Grand National. We'll see."
Evan Williams has no immediate plans for Firebird Flyer after the nine-year-old stayed on stoutly to take second place.
The Llancarfan trainer believes his charge will go up in the handicap because he put in sterling work in the closing stages to get within two and three-quarter lengths of the winner Mountainous.
"The horse ran a very good race. We're very happy with him. He seemed to stay exceptionally well and was doing his best work at the finish," said Williams.
"He's fantastic today, no problems with him whatsoever. He's had a fair old race, as you can imagine in that ground, but he's had a roll in the paddock. He's fine.
"I wouldn't have a clue where we go with him now. The reality of it is he's finished second in a Welsh National.
"I suppose the handicapper will have his say and could sort him out, but he's not done too bad for us.
"We'll see what happens and go from there. We won't get carried away. He ran a good race. That's what we bought him for and he nearly pulled it off."
Coral Welsh Grand National (A Handicap Chase) (Grade 3)
£120,000 added, 4yo plus, 3m 5f 110y, Class 1
20 ran
Going: Heavy
| Pos | Dist | Horse SP | Jockey Weight | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Mountainous (IRE) 9/1 | J E Moore 10-6 |
Kerry Lee | 11 | |
| 2nd | 2¾ | Firebird Flyer (IRE) 25/1 | Adam Wedge 10-7 |
Evan Williams | 9 |
| 3rd | 11 | Shotgun Paddy (IRE) 12/1 | G Sheehan 11-5 |
Miss E C Lavelle | 9 |
| 4th | 8 | Saroque (IRE) 33/1 | L Treadwell 10-6 |
Miss V Williams | 9 |
| 5th | nk | Woodford County (ex4) 12/1 | Ciaran Gethings (5) 10-3 |
P J Hobbs | 9 |
| 6th | 21 | Portrait King (IRE) 16/1 | D R Fox 10-6 |
P Griffin | 11 |
| PU | Masters Hill (IRE) 33/1 | Brendan Powell 11-4 |
C L Tizzard | 10 | |
| PU | Benvolio (IRE) 20/1 | Nick Scholfield 11-2 |
P F Nicholls | 9 | |
| PU | Emperor's Choice (IRE) 10/1 | Aidan Coleman 11-1 |
Miss V Williams | 9 | |
| PU | Upswing (IRE) 10/1 | B J Geraghty 10-13 |
Jonjo O'Neill | 8 | |
| PU | Cogry 8/1f | Ryan Hatch (3) 10-11 |
N A Twiston-Davies | 7 | |
| PU | Bertie Boru (IRE) 25/1 | T J O'Brien 10-6 |
P J Hobbs | 9 | |
| PU | Return Spring (IRE) 25/1 | James Best 10-6 |
P J Hobbs | 9 | |
| PU | Tour Des Champs (FR) (ex4) 12/1 | Jamie Bargary (5) 10-4 |
N A Twiston-Davies | 9 | |
| PU | Fourovakind 16/1 | Nico de Boinville 10-1 |
H Whittington | 11 | |
| PU | Chase The Spud 25/1 | B Hughes 10-0 |
F O'Brien | 8 | |
| F | Bob Ford (IRE) (ex4) 10/1 | Sean Bowen 10-11 |
Miss R Curtis | 9 | |
| UR | Black Thunder (FR) 12/1 | Harry Cobden (7) 11-12 |
P F Nicholls | 9 | |
| UR | Red Devil Lads (IRE) 14/1 | J J Burke 10-10 |
Miss R Curtis | 7 | |
| UR | Allez Vic (IRE) 33/1 | Conor Ring (5) 10-2 |
Evan Williams | 10 |
