Mountainous ready for Welsh National hat-trick bid
Sunday 18 December 2016 12:30, UK
Dual winner Mountainous is set to head Kerry Lee's three-pronged attack on the Coral Welsh Grand National at Chepstow on December 27.
Less than 12 months ago, the Presteigne trainer won the marathon handicap chase with Mountainous in her first season with a licence when the race was rescheduled to early January after being moved from his its original date due to waterlogging.
Mountainous had been under the care of her father Richard when successful in 2013.
The 11-year-old had been the first winner of that age to win since Happy Spring in 1967 when triumphant in the mud last season and was the first dual winner since Bonanza Boy in 1988 and 1989. He now goes for a remarkable third victory.
His trainer, who is also likely to run Bishops Road and Goodtoknow, is hoping for wet conditions again.
"I just want more rain. I haven't spoken to Keith (Ottesen, clerk of the course) yet to see what the ground is like there at the moment," she said.
"We've had a lot of rain at home and we're not that far away from Chepstow, so I'm hoping it's fallen there, too.
"All the horses are very well and I'm looking forward very much to the race.
"I would say I'll have three runners - Mountainous, Bishops Road and Goodtoknow."
