Elegant Escape takes the 2018 renewal on the Coral Welsh Grand National Handicap Chase under Tom O’Brien for Dorset trainer Colin Tizzard.
The son of Dubai Destination was second on his only start between-the-flags to none other than Samcro, in a four-year-old maiden at Monksgrange back in 2016 when trained by Gordon Elliott.
The now six-year-old was running off a mark of 155 on this occasion, having finished a fine second to Sizing Tennessee on his penultimate start in the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury earlier this month.
Now a winner of six of his 16 starts under rules, the Jay Leahy-bred gelding was sent off the 3/1 favorite under Tom O’Brien and raced to the fore for much of the marathon contest, before picking up the running jumping the third last. From here the dour stayer stuck to his task gamely to see off Ramses De Teillee by a length and a quarter.
Owned by John Romans the gelding was purchased for £150,000 from his previous owner Chris Donnelly, following his point-to-point run and has now won over a quarter of a million in prize money for his connections.
