Betfair Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle
 QuinnBet
Grade 3, Haydock Park 14:25
£100,000 added, 4yo plus,
3m 58y, Class 1  
Saturday 20th November 2021

Boylesports

1 Dans Le Vent 16/1
2 Riggs 11/1
3 Bass Rock 13/2
4 Stoney Mountain 22/1
12 ran NR: Brinkley, Martinhal, Storm Arising, Winningseverything
Distances: 1¼l, 3¼l, 7½l

Evan Williams was left fighting back the tears in the Haydock winner’s enclosure after seeing his daughter Isabel steer Dans Le Vent to victory.

It takes something a little bit special to bring out the emotions in the Welsh trainer, who is no stranger to big-race success thanks to the exploits of flying grey Silver Streak among others.

But even he was struggling to find the words to describe his feelings after Dans Le Vent secured Grade Three honours and the lion’s share of £100,000 on Merseyside.

He said: “It’s magical. The kid does all the work with this horse and it’s brilliant. I wouldn’t have run the horse to be honest, but Isabel said we should run in that race at Haydock. I thought she must fancy a day out on Merseyside! I thought it was stupid, but I said on the TV I’m a dinosaur and there’s no doubt that I am! It’s a good job the kids are there to point me in the right direction.”

He added: “It’s the biggest win of Isabel’s career and it’s great – it’s mad how it works out sometimes. Every day is special, but having daughters riding in racing must be a penance for something I’ve done in a previous life – I must have done something very wrong!

“It’s tough because you’ve got to be a professional, but you’ve also got to be a father, so when something like this happens it kicks you in the guts a bit – I thought I wasn’t like that. It’s very special.”

The winning rider said: “The horse has been ultra-reliable and they always say in the race descriptions ‘given too much to do’. He gets to the front and pricks his ears and only thinks he needs to win by a nose.

“He was brilliant today and the step up in trip really helped. I was fairly confident throughout, but you can only ask him once and I’m glad I didn’t need to use my petrol early.”

BetZone

Betfair Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle
£100,000 added, 4yo plus, 3m 58y, Class 1
12 ran
Going: Good

POS. DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1     Dans Le Vent 8 10-12 Evan Williams Isabel Williams 16/1
2 1¼ Riggs 6 10-4 Dan Skelton Harry Skelton 11/1
3 3¼ Bass Rock 5 10-7 Sandy Thomson Ryan Mania 13/2
4 7½ Stoney Mountain 8 11-5 Jamie Snowden Gavin Sheehan 22/1
5 nk Flight Deck 7 10-10 Jonjo O'Neill Jonjo O'Neill Jr 15/2
6 1½ Rightplacerightime 6 10-2 Emmet Mullins Harry Kimber 11/4F
7 nk Orbys Legend 5 11-1 Philip Hobbs Ben Jones 9/2
8 5 Gladiateur Allen 5 10-6 Mrs Jane Williams Chester Williams 12/1
9 nk If The Cap Fits 9 11-12 Harry Fry Daryl Jacob 18/1
10 6½ Doctor Duffy 8 11-2 C Byrnes Adam Wedge 25/1
11 1¼ Ask Dillon 8 11-7 Fergal O'Brien Peter Kavanagh 25/1
12 3¾ Didtheyleaveuoutto 8 10-13 Nick Gifford Kevin Brogan 16/1
NR 2 Brinkley 6 11-9 David Pipe NON RUNNER
NR 5 Storm Arising 7 11-2 Paul Nicholls NON RUNNER
NR 11 Martinhal 6 10-9 David Pipe NON RUNNER
NR 14 Winningseverything 7 10-5 Harry Fry NON RUNNER

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