Thornton Relishing Beauchene Mount Andrew Thornton believes Miko De Beauchene has ticks in all the right boxes for the Coral Welsh National on December 27.The seven-year-old has been all the rage for the Chepstow marathon after a pleasing comeback over hurdles at Newbury.'The Welsh National has always been the target,' said Thornton.'We have always thought of him as that type of horse after he won first time over fences at Chepstow last year.'He didn't quite go on from there but he's a big horse and he was probably just taking a bit of time to mature.'He now seems to have grown in to his frame, he wouldn't be far off being 18 hands now and horses like that need time and Robert (Alner, trainer) is great at giving them that time when they need it.'Now he is starting to repay that. It was a great performance at Newbury last time. It was a shame not to win but he did everything but win and I was just pleased how he kept going from the second-last.'There was plenty of daylight back to the third, which you like to see.'It all bodes well for the Welsh National and he only has 10st 4lb, and it has been proved before that light weights tend to do well,' he told At The Races.'He has an unexposed profile and hopefully he can go on from there.'Miko De Beauchene is 11-2 favourite with the sponsors for the Coral Welsh National.(C) PA Sport
