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- Isabel’S Virginia Chick Success Earns Chepstow Cheers
By dai-sport racing writer Brian Lee at Chepstow Racecourse
The Coral Welsh Grand National at Chepstow was won by the 3-1 favourite Elegant Escape, but the loudest cheers of the day came in the previous race.
Llancarfan’s Isabel Williams, aged 21 and riding her mother Catherine’s six-year-old French-bred Virginia Chick, won the ‘Smart Money’s On Coral’ Handicap Hurdle.
Chick held on by half-a-length to beat the favourite Truckers Lodge, ridden by Pembrokeshire’s Lorcan Williams.
Isabel, reigning Welsh champion point-to-point rider, chalked up her eighth winner under Rules and said: “That went really well for us.
“He’s a lovely horse and I could hear the crowd cheering once I jumped the last. It was just great to be here.
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“I’ve only managed a few point-to-point wins in my mum’s colours so it was nice to get this one. Her sister, Ellie, led up the horse and it was a real family occasion, especially as her grandmother Mary Evans, a former leading rider between-the-flags, was also present.
Like her son Evan, Mary, as Mary Williams, has also ridden at Chepstow Racecourse.
Isabel’s mother, Catherine, trains the point-to-pointers Isabel rides, but Virginia Chick is trained by her father Evan Williams.
“I’m delighted, over the moon in fact, and lucky to be in a position to give Isabel rides on horses which suit her,” said Evan. “But I can’t tell you how hard she really works in the yard.”
Virginia Chick was the second winner of the day for Evan, who won the opening Get Super Smart Boosts At Coral Maiden Hurdle with Present Value, a 13-2 chance who, ridden by stable jockey Adam Wedge, finished seven lengths ahead of Hill Sixteen.
Elegant Escape was a high class winner of the Welsh Grand National.
The going was soft, though the times suggested conditions weren’t too holding. The bumper crowd was entertained by a variety of amusements, including a parade of hounds, a male voice choir, a military band, jazz in the marquee, Luke Harvey presenting for ITV4 and fine racing from Kempton on the big screen. It was overcast but dry.
The National, over almost three and three quarter miles and 22 fences, started on time at 2.50, after the 20 runners paraded and the Welsh national anthem had been played.
On Boxing Day, at Market Rasen, Evan’s Cesar Collonges, a 7-1 chance with Wedge in the saddle, beat the odds-on Sir Egbert, while at Wincanton James Bowen was a winner.
He was riding Potters Corner for Ogmore’s Christian Williams and came in at odds of 18-1.
It was at this meeting Lorcan Williams landed a double for Paul Nicholls with Posh Trish and Flic Ou Voyou.
Another Welsh trainer to saddle a winner over the Christmas holiday was Bridgend’s John Flint, who at Kempton Park last Thursday saw his Eddiemaurice, a 9-1 shot partnered by Nick Scholfield, win the closing handicap hurdle.
