Double joy for Lee at Ludlow
Richard Lee was the pre-Christmas cracker at Ludlow with a 168-1 big-race double.
Noble Crusader put himself in the shop window when landing an incident-packed Tanners Champagne Handicap Chase, before Western Whisky completed the brace when taking the £20,000 (€22,521) feature - the Tanners Wines Handicap Chase.
Given a terrific ride by Ollie Greenall, Western Whiskey was stalking long-time leader Milton Des Bieffes as they turned for home and took up the running at the second-last fence to win by three and half lengths.
Lee said: "That was the plan for him. His jumping can be a bit iffy but it looks as though he is growing up at last.
"It was a bit of an experiment to step him up to three miles but it looks as though it is something he needs and he was also given a great, positive ride."
Lee bought Noble Crusader for £10,000 (€11,261) at the Doncaster October Sales, and said: "I have been telling everyone that he is a class act and they did not believe me."
Noble Crusader took over from favourite Russian Flag after the third-last fence and the 12-1 shot forged eight lengths clear, with Russian Flag fighting back to snatch second place from Markila.
But the drama came on the home turn. Pret A Thou was eight lengths clear as he came round the bend but slipped badly and unshipped the unlucky Rodi Greene - and this after a false start.
Noble Crusader was sent to the sales by Dermot Weld and Lee said: "I fell in love with him the first time I saw him.
"He is such an easy horse to have at home and I thought that they only thing that would beat him was the ground.
"Dermot did not think he liked soft ground but he has gone through it well enough.
"But he is for sale and I hope there is plenty of interest in him now."
The Snail made it four wins in a row in the Alfa Aggregate Products Novices Handicap Chase - and could be out again at Ffos Las next Monday.
Trainer Evan Williams said: "He will have to have a rest at some stage but I will have a look at him on Sunday morning before deciding whether to go again."
The Snail, however, had to use all of his stamina to hold off Ballabrook, who came back at him on the run to the line and was only beaten by a nose.
Williams said: "He lived up to his name in the last 100 yards and this step in class nearly found him out."
"I sold him to the current owners believing that he would make a nice horse to go pointing but I begged them to let me have one more run under Rules with him because we had changed his training routine.
"And the rest, as they say, is history."
Andy Haynes dominated the Tanners Claret Juvenile Novices' Selling Hurdle as Tesserae made a winning start to her hurdling career.
To complete Haynes' day, stable companion Hassadin battled all the way to the line to get the better of long-time leader Mr Melodious by a short head.
That feat was followed later by David Evans saddling winner Jordan's Light and runner-up Bosamcliff in the Tanners Cava Lady Amateur Riders' Handicap Hurdle.
Nicky Henderson's Topsham Belle justified odds-on favouritism under Barry Geraghty, but had to battle to see off Banjaxed Girl in the EBF/Highflyer Bloodstock Mares' "National Hunt" Novices' Hurdle.
Geraghty then completed a short-priced double with Old Mcdonald in the concluding bumper.
