Secret Reprieve’s home win takes top billing on bumper weekend
On what turned into a bumper Saturday thanks to meetings and races re-scheduled from Christmas and new year abandonments, Evan Williams' Secret Reprieve was the star of the show in the Coral Welsh National.
Last season's victory of Potters Corner was met with jubilant scenes at Chepstow, as a home success in the Welsh National for Christian Williams, but Evan (no relation) has been chasing the prize since he took out a licence almost 20 years ago.
Favourite for the race ever since his victor y in the Trial, for which he only carried a 4lb penalty, the money continued to pour in for him, forcing him off at 5-2.
Ridden confidently, despite Adam Wedge suffering not one but two crunching falls earlier in the afternoon, Secret Reprieve won by three lengths from The Two Amigos and Yala Enki - who was placed in the race again.
"It' s more relief than anything else, which is a terrible thing to say. It means an awful lot to us," said Williams.
"It' s nice tension to have (being the favourite) - that's what we do it for. That was never a worry as far as I was concerned.
"The worry came when Adam was on the floor. They patched him up absolutely unbelievably well, and Adam deserves the plaudits-how he can ride after having two crunching falls like he's had, I just take my hat off to him."
Not surprisingly, A in tree could be on the agenda for Secret Reprieve.
Williams added: "The race that really comes to mind is the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. That is only because he's a novice.
"The reality is that the Grand National would be higher on my list, but I'll have to talk to Mr and Mrs Rucker (owners) and see which way they want to go and see how the horse comes out of this race."
Paul Nichol ls won Kempton's two Graded races, part of an across-the - card seventimer.
Mc Fabulous was im pr essive in the Dornan Engineering Relkeel Hurdle saved over from Cheltenham on New Year's Day.
Master Tommy-tucker took advantage of the early departure of hot favourite Imperial Au rain the Ladbrokes Silviniaco Conti Chase, surviving a bad blunder himself at the last. "He is the Ryanair and the Gold Cup," said Nicholls.
"Tome, he would be awesome at Aintree in that twoand-a-half-mile race around there. That would be made for him-and the last day at Sandown, the two-mile-six race there, would suit him well."
Emma L ave lle' s Bore ham Bill was a shock 66-1 winner of the Ladbrokes Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle under Ben Jones.
Daryl Jacob stole the show at Wincanton - riding the first five -timer of his career, each leg for a different trainer.
There was no doubting the highlight, though, was the victory of Alan King's Messire Des Obeaux in the rearranged Paddy Power Dipper Novices' Chase. Off the track for more than 1000 days before winning on his chasing debut at the track last month, he showed all his old ability remains. He was a Grade One- winning novice hurdler in 2016.