Coral Welsh National |
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| Handicap Chase, Chepstow 14:05 Grade 3, £150,000 added, 5yo plus, 3m 5f 110y, Class 1  |
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| Saturday 6th January 2018 | |
1 Raz De Maree 16/1
2
Alfie Spinner 33/1
3
Final Nudge 12/1
4 Vintage Clouds 7/1F
20 ran Distances: 6l, 9l, 1½l
Time: 8m 12.10s (slow by 41.10s)
Raz De Maree wins the Coral Welsh Grand National under James Bowen, beating fellow 13-year-old Alfie Spinner in an eventful race
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The 13-year-old Raz De Maree, trained in Ireland by Gavin Cromwell, is only three years younger than his talented jockey and the pair teamed up to great effect.
Kerry Lee's Alfie Spinner, another 13-year-old, was up there throughout and only gave best inside the final two furlongs, going down by six lengths.
The gambled-on Vintage Clouds was prominent for the first circuit and a half before dropping out only to run on again, while Wild West Wind appeared to be relishing conditions before taking a crashing fall down the back straight on the second circuit.
Final Nudge travelled well before dropping back to third with Vintage Clouds, the 7-1 favourite, fourth as Raz De Maree became the oldest winner of the race in modern times.
Cromwell told At The Races: " He gave him a peach of a ride.
"He was flat to the boards down the back, but he didn't panic and he stayed on. This is fantastic, just brilliant."
Cromwell added: "He's the oldest horse since the war apparently and only the second Irish winner, it's fantastic.
"He's such a pleasure to have, it's fantastic. He's only a small horse but has such heart."
Bowen said: "He's only a few years younger than me! We didn't travel anywhere at all and I thought we'd do well to get round and pick up a place.
"Once he passed a few horses he then picked up the bit and we ended up getting there too soon.
"It's amazing to win. You grow up watching these races at home and to win it in my first (full) season riding is amazing."
Coral Welsh Grand National (A Handicap Chase) (Grade 3)
£150,000 added, 4yo plus, 3m 5f 110y, Class 1
20 ran
Going: Heavy
| Pos | D | Horse SP | Jockey Weight | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Raz De Maree (FR) 16/1 | James Bowen (5) 11-1 |
G P Cromwell | 13 | |
| 2nd | 6 | Alfie Spinner (IRE) 33/1 | Richard Patrick (5) 10-7 |
Kerry Lee | 13 |
| 3rd | 9 | Final Nudge (IRE) 12/1 | Aidan Coleman 11-6 |
David Dennis | 9 |
| 4th | 1½ | Vintage Clouds (IRE) 7/1f | Danny Cook |
Mrs S J Smith | 8 |
| 5th | nk | Silsol (GER) 28/1 | Bryony Frost (5) 11-8 |
P F Nicholls | 9 |
| 6th | 1 | Rathlin Rose (IRE) 50/1 | T Scudamore 10-7 |
D Pipe | 10 |
| 7th | 25 | Pobbles Bay (IRE) 20/1 | Adam Wedge 11-5 |
Evan Williams | 8 |
| PU | Beware The Bear (IRE) (ex4) 11/1 | J McGrath 11-10 |
N J Henderson | 8 | |
| PU | Chase The Spud 11/1 | P J Brennan 11-9 |
F O'Brien | 10 | |
| PU | Bishops Road (IRE) 9/1 | J E Moore 11-5 |
Kerry Lee | 10 | |
| PU | Ask The Weatherman 12/1 | Nick Scholfield 10-13 |
Jack Barber | 9 | |
| PU | Mysteree (IRE) 12/1 | R T Dunne 10-13 |
M Scudamore | 10 | |
| PU | O'Faolains Boy (IRE) 25/1 | B J Geraghty 10-12 |
Miss R Curtis | 11 | |
| PU | Buckhorn Timothy 20/1 | D A Jacob 10-12 |
C L Tizzard | 9 | |
| F | Wild West Wind (IRE) (ex4) 10/1 | A P Heskin 11-3 |
T R George | 9 | |
| F | Firebird Flyer (IRE) 33/1 | Conor Ring (3) 10-5 |
Evan Williams | 11 | |
| F | Emperor's Choice (IRE) (ex4) 10/1 | Charlie Deutsch (3) 10-3 |
Miss V Williams | 11 | |
| UR | Vicente (FR) 22/1 | Sam Twiston-Davies 11-12 |
P F Nicholls | 9 | |
| UR | Milansbar (IRE) 14/1 | T E Whelan 10-9 |
N B King | 11 | |
| UR | On The Road (IRE) 20/1 | Mitchell Bastyan (5) 10-5 |
Evan Williams | 8 |
