Trainer completes fabulous 40 minutes with 34-length Welsh Grand National rout

27 December 2023 , 16:11

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Caoilin Qunn with Welsh Grand National winner Nassalam (Image: PA)

Gary Moore celebrated “the best 40 minutes I’ve had for a long time” after clinching a remarkable treble which climaxed with victory in the Coral Welsh Grand National.

It was already a memorable day for the Sussex trainer after Salver took out Chepstow’s Finale Hurdle and Editeir Du Gite landed the Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton to give him a Grade 2 double.

Yet the best was still to come as Nassalam, the 9-2 favourite for the 3m6½f marathon, annihilated his rivals to land the £85,000 first prize on offer in Wales’ richest horse race.

Up with the pace throughout, he was sent to the front with five fences to jump by his 22-year-old jockey Caoilin Quinn and forged clear to score by 34 lengths from Iron Bridge in second and 2021 victor Iwilldoit third.

“Unbelievable,” said Moore..”It’s the best 40 minutes I’ve had for a long time. It’s the sort of stuff Willie Mullins does, or Gordon Elliott or Nicky Henderson, people like that.

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“Nassalam is some horse to do what he did. Caolin has ridden him handy all the way. The blinkers have galvanised him. I knew he’d come out of his last race very well. He was in a good place if he stayed, which he obviously did.”

Moore now hopes owner John and Yvonne Stone will let him aim Nassalam at the Grand National, a race in which he has yet to saddle a runner.

Gary Moore: trained three big winners in 40 minutes (PA)

“Obviously he is qualified for the Grand National now and I would like to run him in it,” said Moore. “He stays very well. He has jumped around Aintree in the Grand Sefton so I would love to give him a break now and train him for the National.

“I’ve never trained a horse for the National before. I’ve never had a runner. It’s just the way it’s worked out. I am sure the owner would probably like to but I will have to speak to him. It’s the obvious target.”

Nassalam won’t run before Aintree, the trainer added. “He’s had a hard race today. I know he’s won fairly easy but you don’t have an easy race at that distance.”

Jon Lees