Heavenly display by Notre Pere

Ashbourne jockey Andrew Lynch rode the first Irish-trained winner of the Welsh National at Chepstow on Saturday when he guided Troytown Chase winner Notre Pere to victory for Jim Dreaper. Notre Pere was hugely impressive in winning the Troytown Chase last November when he raced clear of the well-regarded Operation Houdini in the home straight. Lynch was recording only his fifth winner of the season at Navan and Saturday"s victory at Chepstow will be a big boost to the popular jockey who has endured many injuries. 'It was unbelievable, I always thought that he would run well in this race and it"s great to win, I"d like to thank the owner and the trainer for sticking by me,' he commented. Returned at 16/1, Notre Pere was always well placed and survived a mistake at the third last fence to take the valuable handicap ahead of Cornish Sett, Halcon Genelardais and Officier De Reserve fourth. Trained by Jim Dreaper, son of the legendary Tom Dreaper, at Kilsallaghan near Ashbourne, the seven-year-old produced a superb round of jumping to take this valuable handicap in fine style. Thomas Dreaper, son of the trainer, returned from England a couple of months ago and now assists his father with the training duties involved in looking after more than 30 horses. 'My son Thomas and Andrew Lynch advised me as far back as last September that the Welsh national would be a good target for Notre Pere,' commented Jim Dreaper in a television interview in the winners" enclosure at the Welsh track. 'We went missing for many years with regard to having horses at the top end, but this is a good, honest horse although he would not be up to tackling the best at level weights. 'He doesn"t do a lot at home and anything that would be working behind him wouldn"t be very quick, but he won the Troytown at Navan and he is only seven. 'The Aintree Grand National has been mentioned already, but I wouldn"t be keen to go there just yet. 'He"s an out-and-out stayer at the early stage of the learning curve, but he"s developing and has done really well since his win at Navan,' added the trainer. There was also talk about the Gold Cup at Cheltenham and the trainer indicated that it might be an option to have an entry in that race next March. 'He needs at least another year, but I might give him an entry for the Gold Cup, there"s always the chance we could get extreme conditions,' he concluded.