By Paul Jones
Welsh jockey Richard Patrick is celebrating a home success after winning the DragonBet Welsh Champion Hurdle on board Nemean Lion at Ffos Las.
On a weekend when there was contrasting fortunes for Wales’ national rugby and football teams, Patrick tilted the balance in home nation favour on Sunday by winning the country’s biggest jump race after the Welsh Grand National.
Trained by Kerry Lee, Nemean Lion looked vulnerable to the challenge of Anyharminasking, but Nemean Lion galloped on strongly on the run-in, whereas his rival lost ground by drifting over to the far rail.
Nemean Lion, winner of the £50,000 @DragonBetWales Welsh Champion Hurdle, could be heading to the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham next. Winning jockey @richpatrick17 was pleased with yesterday’s performance…. pic.twitter.com/V7B5NyQvTZ
— Ffos Las Racecourse (@FfosLasRC) October 16, 2023
Nemean Lion was Lee’s first runner since June.
He could now go for the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham next month, but needs some soft in the going.
“I’m going to enjoy today first and then we’ll look at the options,” said Lee. “I think we’ll probably aim for the Greatwood. That has been the plan over the summer.
“He’s got to have cut in the ground. I won’t run him on anything better than good to soft.”
Nemean Lion was Lee’s first runner since Do It For Thy Sen won both of his starts in June, and five of the Herefordshire trainer’s nine runners this season have now won.
The Lion will sleep tonight! 🏆Nemean Lion 🦁 roars at Ffos Las as he lands the Welsh Champion Hurdle. Well done to all the team who've worked relentlessly to prepare the horses for the new season. Absolutely delighted for his owners, the Roseff family 🎉 #ffoslas #winners #roar pic.twitter.com/mWZOlW0qju
— 𝐊𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐋𝐞𝐞 (@beaubai) October 15, 2023