Welsh National joy for Bai

Le Beau Bai (10-1) showed stamina in abundance to collar Giles Cross in the long home straight and win the Coral Welsh National at Chepstow.

Giles Cross tried to make every post a winning one under Denis O’Regan in an attempt to go one better than 12 months previously.

The pair had it between them for the final mile and Giles Cross kicked clear turning in, but O’Regan was sending out distress signals at the second-last.

Charlie Poste kept urging Richard Lee’s charge along and he kept up his work to score by seven lengths.

Poste was keen not to let Giles Cross get too far in front, but O'Regan must have thought he had the race in the bag.

However, Le Beau Bai’s feather-weight proved a decisive factor in the very testing ground as he eventually ground down the long-time leader.

There was a further 15 lengths back to Cappa Bleu in third, with Bench Warrent fourth.

Neither Hennessy winner Carruthers nor 6-1 favourite Viking Blond travelled with any fluency.