Welsh Grand Nationwide: Val Dancer digs deep for gold at Chepstow for Mel Rowley and Charlie Hammond | Racing Information

Val Dancer emerged from obscurity to win the Coral Welsh Grand Nationwide, hanging on bravely to thwart Sam Thomas’ two-pronged assault at Chepstow.

Educated by Mel Rowley, the 8/1 winner ready for this marathon mission with a victorious return to Carlisle final month and was amongst those that saved a watch on the Novice chief in the course of the opening exchanges.

Dream runners, Dan Skelton’s Galia Des Liteaux and the pair of Jonjo and AJ O’Neill, Iron Bridge and Monbeg Genius, slipped into the race as runners got here down the again for a second time as many remained within the chase because the runners went out of sight on the far a part of the course.

Nevertheless, with fog making visibility troublesome, it was Val Dancer who took over the race because the runners returned to full view with 5 obstacles to leap, the seven-year-old having 2021 Thomas winner Iwilldoit for firm.

Val Dancer and Iwilldoit engaged in a ding-dong battle on the lengthy, stamina-sapping Chepstow Straight and though Iwilldoit’s problem started to falter within the closing levels, his stablemate, the favourite widespread 6/1 Jubilee Categorical, took over to push the winner to the road.

Ridden to victory by Charlie Hammond, Val Dancer emerged a size and a half forward of Jubilee Categorical on the end, with Iwilldoit the identical distance in third. Monbeg Genius was the O’Neill duo’s alternative at quantity 4.

The victory not solely broke Rowley’s duck on the South Wales venue, but additionally supplied the Shropshire handler with the most important success of her younger coaching profession.

She instructed Sky Sports activities Racing: “I am unable to categorical it in phrases and for our little yard in Shropshire, on days like this we watch on the telly, we’re not a part of it. C “It is wonderful, I do not know if I ought to do it.” chortle or cry to be sincere.

“We have been trying down the rail, nevertheless it was a bit like connecting the dots since you could not see a lot. After we noticed him come out of the darkness and he was nonetheless there and in competition, I I believed ‘oh my god’ He is by no means run this distance earlier than, however we have been fairly assured in his skill to proceed.

“Charlie Deutsch rode him on the final day, however needed to be some other place at this time, so the opposite Charlie took the reins they usually had a protracted speak. Charlie Deutsch instructed Charlie Hammond what to do and he rode him achieved to perfection, it was unbelievable.”

Wales-based Thomas could have didn’t win the large race at his native monitor for the second time, however he was however happy with his two positioned horses.

He mentioned: “All credit score goes to the winner and Charlie Deutsch instructed me he was the horse to beat once we have been speaking concerning the race final week, he thought Val Dancer was the right horse for the race. All credit score goes to the Rowley workforce and credit score to us.

“It is a actually good race for us and we love coming right here. We have been so shut, however there’s nothing to complain about and we’re simply delighted and happy with the horses and happy with the house workforce.”

Iwilldoit has given the Gold Cup-winning jockey a number of the largest days of his quick coaching profession, whereas hopes are excessive that Jubilee Categorical will proceed to breed his elder sibling and develop into a everlasting fixture within the hottest everlasting handicap occasions. prestigious.

Thomas added: “If you proceed with these sorts of horses, they inform you when they’re able to retire and Iwilldoit loves that sport. You may’t make him race too typically and he’ll desire a good break once more now, however after they need to do it like that, there isn’t any motive to not proceed.

“We’ll have to look at and see with Jubilee Categorical, however these remaining races appear tailored for him and I dare say if the bottom had been a bit softer prefer it usually is it might have helped him. I am delighted and he is sort of a hunter at residence, he’s so laid again.

“The plan did not work in any respect and we have been purported to do a preparation session, however for one motive or one other it did not occur. Big credit score goes to him and he’ll enhance immensely for this race .”