Elegant Escape's relentless gallop seals Welsh National for businessman Romans

Well-backed 3-1 favourite Elegant Escape got the party started as he stormed to victory in the Coral Welsh Grand National at Chepstow on Thursday, giving Dorset businessman John Romans his biggest success as an owner.

Romans, owner of the Virginia Ash pub in Henstridge and a long-standing supporter of Elegant Escape's trainer Colin Tizzard, declared: “This is the best day’s racing I've ever had as an owner and it's the top of the tree – there's no doubt we'll all be back at the pub, which is only a couple of miles from Colin’s yard, for lots of drinks and a good celebration later."

He added: “Before the race I asked Tom [O’Brien, jockey] to stay out of trouble and he did that to perfection. All the way I was confident as the horse is a strong stayer and a beautiful young horse – and obviously the best I've ever had run in my silks.

“I'll have to talk it over with Colin, and he might have other ideas, but we have to head for Cheltenham in March, like Native River did when he won this race two years ago.

"I fully appreciate the Gold Cup is a hot race but I suspect we'll now take our chance as there aren't that many options.”

Brisk pace

O’Brien must have listened to Romans’ instructions as he always had the six-year-old well placed in fourth spot just off the brisk pace and it was evident the pair were travelling as well as anything as the field headed towards home on the final circuit.

After jumping to the front at the penultimate fence, Elegant Escape had to dig deep going to the last when the rallying Ramses De Teillee emerged as his main threat.

Elegant Escape with groom Manik Khan (centre) and jockey Tom O'Brien at Chepstow on ThursdayCredit: Harry Trump

However, another good leap settled matters and there was a length and a quarter between the pair at the line.

Tizzard was celebrating his second Welsh National winner, having scored with Native River two years ago. Native River, also six when he won the race, went on to finish third in the Gold Cup the same season before taking the crown this year.

Tizzard said: “This race has been the plan since he ran so well to be second at Newbury in the Ladbrokes Trophy and it's paid off – what a result all round.

“Tom gave him a copybook ride as the plan was to get a pitch just off the pace and ride his race from there. He's delivered that to perfection and we're all over the moon, especially my son Joe and daughter Kim.

"I can't understand how my kids get so excited but I suppose they have good reason in this case.”

Significant mistake

Ramses De Teillee’s trainer David Pipe was left ruing what might have been as his six-year-old was edging into a challenging position when he made a mistake four fences from home, though he refused to say it made the difference between defeat and victory.

“The error didn't help his cause but he had plenty of time to come back and he has been beaten by a good horse on the day," Pipe said.

"His part-owner John White is gutted but the horse proved he stays this longer trip and ran an absolute cracker in the circumstances.”

Ramses De Teillee’s jockey David Noonan received a four-day ban for using his whip above the permitted level from approaching the second-last.

Yala Enki showed up well for a long way and finished a gallant third, while also earning a share of the prize-money were Rons Dream in fourth, last season's winner Raz De Maree in fifth and Ballyoptic in sixth.

Result, replay and analysis

Read exclusive previews from 6pm daily on racingpost.com