Bowen looks to have a live National hope

WHILE there was plenty of great action at Aintree and Sandown on Saturday, Welsh jockeys and trainers were making hay at Chepstow, winning six out of the eight races.

Sean Bowen rode a short-priced double for Harry Fry. Ask Me Early finished alone in a three-mile novice hurdle as a warm-up for the Welsh Grand National on December 27, for which he is the 8-1 joint-second favourite.

Ree Okka later won the two-and-a-halfmile novice hurdle.

Lorcan Williams rode out his claim aboard the odds-on Take Your Time, who needed every yard of the three miles to get on top. He could be back for a Welsh National in a year or two.

Williams has been attached to the Paul Nicholls yard for six years and it was apt that the multiple champion trainer supplied this, his 75th career winner.

Sam Thomas’s Iwilldoit ran away with the Coral Welsh National Trial, leading for most of the race and galloping 24 lengths clear at the line. The Braces’ consistent Colorado Doc was second.

Pat’s Fancy won the three-mile novice chase for Rebecca Curtis and Ben Jones. This was only his second outing over the larger obstacles, but he jumped nicely.

Powys trainer Brian Eckley won the National Hunt Flat race with his home-bred Libberty Hunter, who made all the running. It was the horse’s second bumper victory a full 12 months after his last run. If Eckley wants to name his price, it’s sure to have six figures.

Richard Patrick went to Wetherby, where he rode a double for Henry Daly and Anthony Honeyball. He is on the crest of a wave at the moment, with a strike rate of 14 winners from 69 rides since the start of October.

At the bigger courses the Welsh were less fortunate. At Sandown, Christian Williams’s Strictlyadancer failed to add to his three consecutive victories, being pulled up in the three-mile five-furlong London National.

James Bowen’s first ride on dual Grand National winner Tiger Roll in the Many Clouds Chase at Aintree was not a happy one. The horse was never travelling and was pulled up at halfway. In the Becher Chase soon afterwards he took a fall from his father’s Mac Tottie.

Our final meeting of the year at Ffos Las is on Thursday, December 16, and the 2022 fixture list is on our website.