Plan comes together for Kerry Lee at Chepstow

As far as plans go, the victory of Itshard To No in the Le Beau Bai & Mountainous Chase at Chepstow could not have worked out any better for trainer Kerry Lee.

After stepping in to sponsor a two-mile race named in honour of the yard's two former Welsh Grand National heroes at the eleventh hour, the Presteigne handler could not hide her delight as she saw the prize head back her way after the eight-year-old got up in the closing strides by a neck.

"I'm absolutely thrilled to win this race. It was a last-minute call to sponsor the race. Keith (Ottesen, clerk of the course) rang me yesterday. I like a trip to Chepstow and I couldn't call it the Kerry Lee Chase, so we came up with the Le Beau Bai and Mountainous Chase in tribute to them," said Lee.

"This horse won't ever win a Welsh Grand National as two-mile chases are his game.

"That was the most fantastic ride by Richard (Johnson). He rode the horse with huge confidence and that's exactly why he is champion jockey."

Paddy The Oscar may be fast approaching his 15th birthday, but the Grace Harris-trained veteran showed he still has plenty of life left in him by gaining a first success in almost two years in the Ali Oils Memorial Handicap Chase.

Harris said of the 10-1 winner: "It was brilliant and he is such a legend. It was a slog in that ground and he has done it well, especially as he is rising 15 years old. I thought the younger legs might catch him.

"He just keeps going and this season he seems to look so well. We will keep going as he loves his job and gets looked after like a king."

Evan Williams took the wraps off two potentially smart recruits after teaming up with Adam Wedge to claim a double at the Monmouthshire track.

The brace was initiated by the five-length victory of The Last Day (15-8) in the two-mile maiden hurdle.

Williams said: "He's a big, raw baby and he was having a good look around. It's nice that he has won a bumper and a maiden hurdle now. He could come back here under a penalty."

The double was completed by Chooseyourweapon (9-1), who snatched an unlikely victory when swooping late in the second maiden hurdle of the day.

Williams added: "He is a lovely type of horse. He was green at all his hurdles but the penny dropped and he stayed on well."

PERFORMANCE OF THE DAY

Steely Addition can expect to be hit with a serious hike in the weights after demolishing his rivals by 10 lengths in the extended two-mile-seven-furlong handicap hurdle. However, the Philip Hobbs-trained five-year-old is clearly on a steep upward curve.

RIDE OF THE DAY

Richard Johnson emphasised just why he is the best in the business when galvanising Itshard To No to glory in the dying strides under a power-packed ride.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

Owners Angela and William Rucker are known for taking a patient approach with horses and trainer Evan Williams believes it will be a while yet before seeing the best of The Last Day.

Williams said: "I think it is fair to say that Mr and Mrs Rucker and I won't be seeing the best of him until he is about 10 or 11 running around Aintree. We don't want him to peak to soon!"