CHEPSTOW:Notre Pere was crowned the first Irish-trained winner of the Coral Welsh National at Chepstow today. Trained by Jim Dreaper and ridden by Andrew Lynch, the seven-year-old produced a textbook round of jumping to take this valuable Grade Three handicap at odds of 16-1.
Cornish Sett edged top-weight Halcon Genelardais for second with Officier De Reserve fourth.
Notre Pere, a good winner at Navan last time, had proven levels of stamina as he finished third in this year's Irish Grand National.
This effort by far eclipsed that achievement, however, as Lynch's mount joined Officier De Reserve and Sherwoods Folly in an absorbing three-way scrap at the third-last.
Notre Pere cosily outstayed those two rivals and powered clear at the penultimate obstacle to collect by seven lengths.
Paul Nicholls' Cornish Set came from a mile back as did the laudable Halcon Genelardais, a winner of the race in 2006 and runner-up last year.
Nicholls completed the minor placings with the fourth-placed Officier De Reserve,
The early exchanges, in which Joe Lively and Sherwoods Folly set the pace, were tinged with misfortune as last year's winner Miko De Beauchene fell at the second fence.
Dreaper said: "We thought he was not good enough to have a go at the best horses at level weights, which I still believe.
"This was the option over Christmas — a handicap — and he won a good one at Navan last time.
"He had to improve from Navan and he did.
"He's a good old-fashioned horse — he's not too quick, but he's honest."
Although Notre Pere was predictably cut in price for the John Smith's Grand National, Dreaper would prefer not to run him at Aintree next April.
"If I had my way, he wouldn't run because he's only eight (next year)," added the trainer. "Maybe if we are all around in a couple of years' time, but probably not now."