Elegant Escape
Elegant Escape was impressive in winning the Welsh Grand National. Colin Tizzard's horse is not exactly under the radar, but he still might be an under-rated horse.
He and Ramses De Teillee had it between them from a long way out and, while Elegant Escape was undoubtedly helped by the momentum-halting mistake that his main rival made at the fourth last fence, he still stayed on well for Tom O'Brien to win nicely.
The handicapper raised Elegant Escape's mark by 8lb to a mark of 159, and that put him on the coat-tails of the top staying chasers. He will have to improve again to get up to Gold Cup standard, but he still has the potential to improve. He was among the leading staying novice chasers last season, he finished second in the Kauto Star Chase and he finished third in the RSA Chase and he has just turned seven. He has taken his form to a new level this season after a wind operation during the summer. He won a good graduation chase at Sandown on his seasonal return, and he finished second in the Ladbrokes Trophy on his second run, off a mark of 155.
His profile is not dissimilar to the profile that last year's Gold Cup winner Native River had at this stage two seasons ago. Native River won the Ladbrokes Trophy and the Welsh National in 2016/17, before finishing third behind Sizing John in that year's Gold Cup. Elegant Escape still has a fair way to climb if he is to get up to his stable companion's level, but he has the potential to climb at least some of the way.
Chepstow, 27th December 2018
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