Dai Williams’ battling spirit reflected in West Of The Edge

Dai Williams’ battling spirit to overcome both a heart attack and a stroke were reflected by the tenacious success of West Of The Edge in the Crystal Services Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle at Plumpton yesterday.

Despite pulling up last time out at Catterick, having previously won the Lincolnshire National at Market Rasen on Boxing Day, the 10-year-old made a successful switch back to smaller obstacles when grinding out a two-and-a-half-length victory in the three-mile-one-furlong event.

He handing a fourth winner of the campaign to Williams, who said: “I had a bad stroke in 2002 and a heart attack on New Year’s Day in 2007, so I had an enforced sabbatical. I’ve only got 10 boxes, but with the health problems that’s all I want.”