Le Beau Bai takes the Welsh National Le Beau Bai, trained by Richard Lee and ridden by Charlie Poste, edged out Giles Cross after a thrilling duel in the Coral Welsh National. The pair had the race to themselves turning for home and it seemed Giles Cross (15-2) was set to go one place better than when second last year. He was still in front over the third last but soon began to tire and despite being under pressure, the 10-1 winner rallied. He headed his rival going to the penultimate fence and stayed on dourly to win by seven lengths. It was a further 15 lengths back to Cappa Bleu in third with Bench Warrent (50-1) fourth. Both the winner and runner-up are 33s with Sky Bet for the John Smith's Grand National. Poste said: "He's been a good servant to me. "Beforehand I spoke to the owners and I picked out Giles Cross as the one I really thought was the one we had to beat. "We rode him in similar style when he won here earlier this month. "I never thought it was a foregone conclusion and he's toughed it out really well." Lee said: "It's a race I've always wanted to win. "We didn't run in it last year, but he was third two years ago and it all went to plan this time. "I was worried the ground wasn't going to be soft enough for him but Charlie got some great leaps out of him. "We train on the Welsh borders to come here and win the Welsh National is fantastic. It's a fairytale." Trainer Victor Dartnall said of Giles Cross: "He's run his heart out, but he was on his own in front for a long way and I think that might have gone against him. Evan Williams said of Cappa Bleu: "I seem to be making a habit of being placed in Nationals, but it was great to be part of it. "I'd say the first race that comes to mind now would be the National itself and I suppose that will be something to think about in the spring."
