Nassalam dominates the Welsh National race to secure victory

Astonishing Victory for Nassalam in Coral Welsh Grand National

In a display of unparalleled stamina and determination, trainer Gary Moore’s horse, Nassalam, emerged as the sensational winner of the highly anticipated Coral Welsh Grand National at Chepstow. This triumph marked yet another remarkable achievement for Moore, who had already celebrated Grade Two success earlier at the South Wales track.

With Clarence House Chase victor Editeur Du Gite also finding his best form to defend his Desert Orchid title at Kempton, expectations were high for Nassalam as he entered the race as one of the joint-favorites with odds set at 9-2.

Demonstrating incredible resilience under a penalty for winning the Welsh National Trial just weeks prior to this event, six-year-old Nassalam closely followed early frontrunner Amateur during the demanding course that tested even seasoned competitors.

As they embarked on their second lap around Chepstow’s challenging track, only Amateur trained by John Flint and Paul Nicholls’ Complete Unknown remained visible among a dwindling field affected by treacherous conditions.

Owning Nasallam was none other than John and Yvonne Stone who witnessed their prized steed surge past Amateur halfway down the backstretch. At this crucial stage of the race, it became evident that victory was well within reach for Nasslam despite fierce competition from Sam Thomas’ Iwilldoit and Complete Unknown.

< p>An unfortunate blunder from Complete Unknown proved to be the turning point of the race as it knocked him out of contention. Meanwhile, Iwilldoit valiantly pursued Nassalam’s lead but was unable to catch up with the determined frontrunner. < p>Nassalam soared ahead, leaving his rivals trailing behind as he galloped down Chepstow straight. With a comfortable 15-length lead at two fences remaining, jockey Caoilin Quinn skillfully extended this advantage to an outstanding 34 lengths. This resounding victory added another triumph for Salver in the Grade Two Finale Juvenile Hurdle just moments before.

Jonjo O’Neill’s Iron Bridge managed to secure second place, with Iwilldoit settling for third. However, it was undoubtedly Nassalam who stole the limelight that afternoon with his affinity for muddy conditions and impressive display of strength and speed.

Praising Nassalam’s performance, Moore remarked on how blinkers and soft ground had brought out significant improvements in the talented horse. He expressed satisfaction at seeing Nassalam safely clear each obstacle during the race and acknowledged jockey Caoilin Quinn’s expertise in guiding their victorious charge towards a momentous win. < p>Despite already achieving remarkable success, Moore emphasized that there is still room for improvement given Nasallam’s young age. Looking ahead to future races, Moore admitted that placing Nasallam appropriately could pose a challenge but shared his inclination towards training him for a National event like Aintree’s Randox Grand National – particularly if conditions align favorably similar to when Red Marauder emerged victorious years ago.