Welsh National hero Iwilldoit completes memorable double for Sam Thomas

A Coral Welsh National victory for trainer Sam Thomas was emotional enough with Iwilldoit maintaining the fine recent record for horses based in the Principality.

The Cardiff-based former jockey also has a particularly close association with the winning gelding's family, having also claimed a success on his dam during a successful career in the saddle capped by Gold Cup glory with Denman.

Thomas often used to ride for Reg Brown, a farmer and long-time permit holder in Monmouthshire who died in 2016 aged 95.

One of Thomas's strikes for Brown came aboard his home-bred Lyricist's Dream in a novice hurdle at Uttoxeter in 2007, her sole victory in a long career.

View result and watch replay here

Brown actually trained five of her other siblings to win minor races, with Thomas also successful in another hurdle at Hereford on her half-brother Drakestone.

He told the Racing Post that day: "This is my first winner here in 20 years and she was the last mare I bred.

"Sam is a bloody good jockey, but you can't always get hold of him. We go back a long way and I gave him his first two winning rides."

Dreams End mare Lyricist's Dream produced only two foals before her death in 2014. Her first was an unraced filly by Midshipman, so Iwilldoit, who was leased to owners Diamond Racing, was her only representative on the track.

He was sired by Flying Legend, who was at Ballintry Stud before moving to Shade Oak in 2012. An Alleged brother to the exceptional National Hunt sire Montelimar, Flying Legend won twice for Sir Henry Cecil and was claiming much the biggest prize of his stallion career as his son came nine lengths clear.

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