Richard Lee delighted as Le Beau Bai claims Coral Welsh National
Shropshire border trainer Richard Lee enjoyed one of the biggest days of his career as he fulfilled a lifelong ambition with victory in the Coral Welsh National.
Shropshire border trainer Richard Lee enjoyed one of the biggest days of his career as he fulfilled a lifelong ambition with victory in the Coral Welsh National.
Lee was at Chepstow yesterday to see stable star Le Beau Bai claim a stunning success in the showpiece race.
Jockey Charlie Poste piloted the 10-1 shot – who was third in 2009 but mistakenly not entered last year – to a deserved victory over the 3m 5f course.
It sparked a party that went on long into the night back at Lee's Byton home, though attention has already now been targeted at the Eider Chase on February 25.
"I can't remember too much about it," joked Lee. "We had a few neighbours and friends around and Charlie was here, too.
"We had a great night and rightly so, because you don't have days like that too often.
"We'll probably go to Newcastle in February now for the Eider Chase," he added.
"There are very few races for horses in his ratings band and we'd always been looking towards the Eider."
Le Beau Bai enjoyed an absorbing tussle with Giles Cross in heavy conditions at Chepstow.
Giles Cross led for most of the race and jockey Denis O'Regan pulled him three lengths clear with five of the 22 flights still to be jumped.
But Poste refused to panic and continued his relentless pursuit on Le Beau Bai – eventually passing his rival in the run-up to the penultimate fence.
"It was a very exciting race and I thought right up until the second-last that we were going to be second, which would have been no disgrace," added Lee.
"Charlie gave him a terrific ride. He has matured as a jockey in the last couple of years and it's all down to confidence. He didn't panic at any stage. He didn't let Giles Cross get away but he didn't go and bust him either."
Cappa Bleu, once trained by Hadnall's Sheila Crow but now under the care of Welsh handler Evan Williams, was 15 lengths behind the runner-up in third.
"The Grand National springs to mind as an obvious target now," said Williams.
"He jumps and he stays and the Aintree ground will be more to his liking."
