Bowen youngest jockey to win Welsh National
Continued from front page chances in one hit. A group of six (which did not include Raz De Maree) began to draw away on the home turn but it soon began to fall apart, with only Alfie Spinner, the other 13-year-old in this year’s race, at its head going anything like a winner.
But the 16-1 shot Raz De Maree, his competitive spirit invigorated by passing beaten rivals, was creeping ever closer and joined the leader jumping the second last before galloping away strongly to lead home a one-two for the equine OAPs. Final Nudge ran well for third while Vintage Cloud, the 7-1 favourite, plugged on gamely for fourth.
The victory was also the biggest in the career of Meath trainer Gavin Cromwell, though he is no stranger to even bigger winners: a blacksmith by trade, he is farrier to Gordon Elliott. With his hands were shod the Grand National winner Silver Birch and Gold Cup winner Don Cossack as well as countless other Grade One winners.
Half an hour earlier Cromwell, 43, who has only been training seriously for four years, had put the saddle on Raz De Maree unsure whether his other runner, Famous Milly, would get up again after falling at the last in the Coral Future Champions Finale Juvenile Hurdle. Though it took her a while to get to her feet, it turned out she was merely winded.
“He has such heart,” said Cromwell of Raz de Maree. “He doesn’t know how to give up and James gave him a peach of a ride. I’m delighted he accepted the ride – a few top jockeys rang up for it but the horse is so small that taking 5lb off his back was important. He finds it hard jumping if he’s carrying over 11st.
“He is owned by a neighbour, Jimmy Swan senior, who isn’t that well at the moment so was watching at home. I actually thought it was a huge ask to come back a year older with a pound more weight. But he stays so well and he won’t stop. Once he was running there wasn’t any doubt.”