Le Beau Bai excels in Coral Welsh National

Le Beau Bai, the long-time ante-post favourite for the Coral Welsh National impressed us all when finishing third in the Welsh feature.
Le Beau Bai, expected by connections to be well at home in the testing conditions, travelled well as usual and ran a sound race without managing to get to grips with the first two. He has remarkable stamina for one so young, and if he takes his racing well he will be a major force in similar events for some time to come. Trainer Richard Lee reported than his preparation had been held up by snow but was not using that as an excuse for what he described as a "very satisfactory run".

 

Richard Lee was the pre-Christmas cracker at Ludlow with a 168-1 big-race double. Noble Crusader put himself in the shop window when landing an incident-packed Tanners Champagne Handicap Chase, before Western Whisky completed the brace when taking the £20,000 feature - the Tanners Wines Handicap Chase.

Above: Noble Crusader jumping to victory and left Western Whisky (pics thanks to Les Hurley).

Given a terrific ride by Ollie Greenall, Western Whisky was stalking long-time leader Milton Des Bieffes as they turned for home and took up the running at the second-last fence to win by three and half lengths. Lee said: "That was the plan for him. His jumping can be a bit iffy but it looks as though he is growing up at last.

"It was a bit of an experiment to step him up to three miles but it looks as though it is something he needs and he was also given a great, positive ride. I have been telling everyone that he is a class act and they did not believe me."

Noble Crusader took over from favourite Russian Flag after the third-last fence and the 12-1 shot forged eight lengths clear, with Russian Flag fighting back to snatch second place from Markila. But the drama came on the home turn. Pret A Thou was eight lengths clear as he came round the bend but slipped badly and unshipped the unlucky Rodi Greene - and this after a false start. Noble Crusader was sent to the sales by Dermot Weld and Lee said: "I fell in love with him the first time I saw him.

"He is such an easy horse to have at home and I thought that they only thing that would beat him was the ground. Dermot did not think he liked soft ground but he has gone through it well enough. I am delighted to say that Noble Crusader will now run in the colours of Mrs Nicola Shields."

Noble Crusader returns to the winners' enclosure	Brian and Alan Beard receive their prize after Western Whisky's win

 

Congratulations to Richard Johnson landing his 2000th winner on Fighting Chance

Next door neighbours Le Beau Bai and Fighting Chance have success in their corner of the yard at The Bell House. Fighting Chance provided Richard Johnson with his 2000th career win at Newbury this week while Le Beau Bai currently heads the market for Chepstow's Coral Welsh National at the end of the month.

Fighting Chance landed the spoils in the Powersolve Greatwood H'cap Chase by 2 and a half lengths from AP McCoy aboard Wheels Up. Having made all throughout the extended two mile and two furlong contest, Richard Johnson produced a mightly leap from the half brother to War Of Attrition at the cross-fence before fighting off a challenge from the runner up.

Ladies Day at Hereford was certainly just that for Garafena who, making her debut for Richard, landed the spoils in emphatic fashion.

Choc Thornton steered Garafena to her three and a half length winner over 2-1 favourite Civil Servant. She was keen for the first mile of the race and ridden handily until taking up the running at the second last. Choc kicked six lengths clear approaching the final flight and Garafena stayed on well to the line.

Charlie Poste teamed up with Marked Man in the C/J's H'cap Chase over an extended 3m 1f - a trip Marked Man was trying for the first time at the age of 13. Indeed, Marked Man had not previously won over a distance further than 2m 4f. However he enjoys Hereford and landed his third victory at our local track - scoring a 142-1 double for Richard on the day.

Richard Lee and Richard Elliott (owner of Marked Man)

Marked Man took up the running heading in to the back straight on the final circuit. He jumped well and galloped home without even fending off a challenge. Incidentally Marked Man proved that he is a 'born racehorse' when he recorded a time of 6m 7.8seconds, a time which is 4.2seconds quicker than the standard. Not bad for a horse at the age of 13!