Coral Welsh National
Handicap Chase, Chepstow 14:50
£150,000 guaranteed,
5yo plus,
3m 6f 130y, Class 1 
Tuesday 27th December 2022

Boylesports

1 The Two Amigos 16/1
2 The Big Breakaway 12/1
3 The Big Dog 11/2
4 Truckers Lodge 12/1
17 ran NR: Gats And Co, Pats Fancy
Distances: 1¼l, 5l, 22l

Fifth to Potters Corner in 2019 and second to Secret Reprieve two years later, Nicky Martin’s The Two Amigos was providing conditional jockey David Prichard with by far the biggest win of his career.

The first three home headed into the first corner in very handy positions and nothing else really got into contention.

Top weight The Big Dog was alongside The Two Amigos for much of the contest and it was not until jumping the final fence his welter burden began to take its toll and he eventually began to weaken.

That allowed The Big Breakaway – who is trained by Joe Tizzard, brother of the late Kim Gingell who is remembered in the race title – to close into second and while it briefly looked as if he may claim the leader, The Two Amigos held on by a length and a quarter.

The Big Dog was five lengths back in third with Truckers Lodge, ridden by Gingell’s son, Freddie, fourth.

Trainers Quotes

Martin was not at Chepstow as she was unwell, but winning the biggest race of her career may just help her recuperate.

“That was absolutely brilliant. It’s such a shame we weren’t there, but I’m full of flu and I’m not sure I could have stuck that in that weather today,” said Martin.

“Ironically we desperately needed the rain for him, we were praying for it, and it all panned out perfectly.

“He really deserved it, he’d run so well in it twice before and he is so popular. Dave did what he was told, get to the front and dictate the pace because he had no weight, and luckily it all worked out perfectly.

“It’s a race where you have to be handy, very few come from the back, so that was perfect and I’m delighted.

“It’s great for Dave, too. He doesn’t get that many rides and as a Welshman it will mean the world to him. For us, as a small yard, it’s a great boost for everybody.

“It also might be a great cure for flu!”

FormRatings

Prichard told Sky Sports Racing: “I must thank Nicky Martin and her partner John who give me a lot of opportunities, I’m just glad I can pay them back with a win like this.

“He always tries his best but today we got the right ground and it was far enough and he was off a featherweight. I didn’t have a lot of Christmas dinner but it was worth it!

“I got a good start and then I didn’t see anyone else which I was thankful of, his jumping was so good, he makes ground at every fence.

“I was born and raised near Cardiff in Pontypridd so all my family are here today, now I’m based down in Devon.”

Boylesports

Coral Welsh Grand National
(A Handicap Chase) (Grade 3)
£150,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 3m 6f 130y, Class 1
17 ran
Going: Soft

POS. DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1     The Two Amigos 10 10-6 Nicky Martin David Prichard 16/1
2 1¼ The Big Breakaway 7 11-13 Joe Tizzard Brendan Powell 12/1
3 5 The Big Dog 9 12-0 4ex Peter Fahey Aidan Coleman 11/2
4 22 Truckers Lodge 10 11-6 Paul Nicholls Freddie Gingell 12/1
5 18 Movethechains 8 10-7 Gary Moore Jamie Moore 16/1
6 2½ Wouldubewell 8 10-11 Emma Lavelle Tom Bellamy 28/1
7 5½ Musical Slave 9 11-0 Philip Hobbs Micheal Nolan 25/1
FELL The Galloping Bear 9 11-5 Ben Clarke Ben Jones 11/2
FELL Regina Dracones 7 10-7 Thomas Gibney Harry Cobden 22/1
PU Cyclop 11 10-9 David Dennis Lilly Pinchin 25/1
PU Quick Wave 9 11-9 4ex Venetia Williams Charlie Deutsch 4/1F
PU D'Jango 9 10-2 David Pipe David Noonan 150/1
PU Wayfinder 8 10-9 Rebecca Curtis Adam Wedge 25/1
PU Time To Get Up 9 11-3 Jonjo O'Neill Jonjo O'Neill Jr 25/1
PU Fortescue 8 11-10 Henry Daly Hugh Nugent 16/1
PU Ask Me Early 8 11-3 Harry Fry Sean Bowen 5/1
PU Fantastikas 7 11-6 Nigel Twiston-Davies Sam Twiston-Davies 33/1
NR 5 Pats Fancy 7 11-7 Rebecca Curtis NON RUNNER
NR 18 Gats And Co 7 10-2 David Brace NON RUNNER