WELSH PRIDE IS NO SECRET

Williams hails bravery of bruised Wedge

JOCKEY Adam Wedge was hailed a hero by trainer Evan Williams for picking himself back up to ride Welsh National winner Secret Reprieve after two heavy falls.

The rider climbed aboard the

5-2 favourite at Chepstow with his left arm strapped up, having earlier come off both Esprit Du Large and Clyne.

Wales’ feature race was much more straightforward aboard the progressive seven-year-old, as he jumped well from fence to fence.

Wedge took the lead at the third last fence and had to overcome a slipping saddle to get his mount home three lengths in front from The Two Amigos (9-1).

Yala Enki (12-1) took third, just as he did in 2018 and 2019, while Captain Drake

(28-1) was fourth.

Secret Reprieve was the second Welsh- t r ained winner in a row, following Potters

Corner in 2019.

“Those boys are all heroes but that one belongs to Wedgey because he showed toughness beyond toughness to go out there and ride that horse,” Williams said.

“You can have as big a chance as you want, when you are squashed under a horse at the last (fence, Esprit Du Large), with

500 kilos of horse on top of you. “He has come back from a list of injuries. They patched him up in there, the team in there have done a wonderful job.”

Earlier in the afternoon, Wedge had to be helped to his feet by on-course medics after falling heavily from Esprit Du Large.

Joined by the eventual winner Cepage at the final fence, the chaser gave him no chance of staying in the saddle with a shocking blunder.

Then, just over half-an-hour later, Wedge was on the floor again when he parted company with Clyne in the Coral ‘Fail To Finish’ Free Bets Hurdle.

“I went back in and I was very winded and I was very sore after Esprit Du Large fell,” he said. “The fact that I had a ride straight after probably kept me going through. “If I had time to sit down and stiffen up, it probably would have been a different matter.

“The fact that I have been busy has kept me going. “Once your adrenaline is up you don’t feel anything. Wedge (above) added: “It means so much for Evan to win it, more than anyone.

“It’s a race that he has always held close to his heart.”

Secret Reprieve is 25-1 with sponsors Coral for the Randox Health Grand National in April.

WELSH WONDER: Secret Reprieve and Adam Wedge on their way to victory in the Welsh Grand National