Escape in sheer Elegance after attritional Welsh National Triumph

Elegant Escape followed in the hoofprints of his esteemed stablemate Native River when taking the Coral Welsh Grand National under Tom O’Brien for trainer Colin Tizzard.

Sent off the 3/1 Favourite after a superb second in the Ladbrokes Trophy 26 days ago to another stable companion in Sizing Tennessee, the six-year-old stayed on resolutely in the soft conditions to deny the relentless challenge of the David Pipe trained Ramses De Teillee, who was proving the doubters on his stamina wrong when chasing home the winner all the way down the home straight.

Vieux Lion Ruge and Yala Enki took the field along during the first circuit and a half of the 3m 5f contest, eyeballing one another and setting a decent if not slightly generous pace. Not far behind, just off their coat-tails was Elegant Escape and Tom O’Brien, keen not to give the leaders too much rope and free reign. Coming out of the back straight on the final circuit the two leaders had established a gap of approximately 5 lengths over Elegant Escape, Regal Flow and Ramses De Teillee.

Upon entering the straight Yala Enki and Charlie Deutsch kicked on, quickly putting daylight between themselves and Vieux Lion Rouge, who was beginning to toil underneath Tom Scudamore. He was quickly swallowed up in turn by Elegant Escape and Ramses De Teillee, who took aim at the leader approaching 5 out.

Heading over it and on to the final ditch, 4 out, it appeared that Ramses De Teillee was going to prove the stronger of the two challengers to Yala Enki, but he blundered the ditch, pecking on landing and allowing Elegant Escape to switch to the inside of Yala Enki. These three jumped three out within a length of each other, and it was now that Tom O’Brien sent on Elegant Escape, though Ramses De Teillee and to his credit Yala Enki wouldn’t lie down and kept close tabs on him to two out.

Over two out Yala Enki’s challenge began to waiver as he was looking very much held by the front pair, who drew away as they approached the last fence. Elegant Escape flew the last, barely touching it, and started up the run in with a tenacious grit and determination to outlast his long time pursuer. Despite getting to just under half a length to him on the run in, Ramses De Teillee just couldn’t reel in Elegant Escape, who found more at the end to score by 1 1/4 lengths, with Yala Enki claiming third and Ron’s Dream running a mighty race to finish fourth.

There were joyous celebrations in the winner’s enclosure, the highlight of which being the beaming smile lighting up the Dorset handler’s face as he celebrated a second Welsh National in the last 3 runnings of the race. Owner J P Romans was very gracious and grateful to the trainer for giving him the best moment he has ever had as an owner, and given how his charge followed in the footsteps of his stablemate in winning the Welsh Grand National, could Elegant Escape now be going down the same route he took after his 2016 triumph and be aimed at The Cheltenham Gold Cup in March? It shall have to be seen whether connections feel he deserves to take, and is capable of taking, his chance at the blue riband event.