'The real top riders never seem to get it wrong' - Dylan Johnston mulling over tricky decision between stablemates in Welsh National

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Dylan Johnston has yet to commit to ride the Coral Welsh Grand National favourite Jubilee Express and faces an agonising decision in the run-up to the Chepstow marathon.

The rider is retained by leading owner Dai Walters and partnered the progressive eight-year-old to finish second to Val Dancer in the race last year. Jubilee Express, who won the trial under Lorcan Williams this month, heads the betting at 6-1 for the big race on December 27.

However, Johnston has yet to make his mind up whether to ride Jubilee Express or his Sam Thomas-trained stablemate Shomen Uchi, who is a general 10-1 chance having finished fourth in a staying handicap chase at Haydock last month. 

Jubilee Express: favourite for the Welsh Grand National after winning the course's official trialCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Shomen Uchi arrives with an unexposed profile, particularly over fences given he has only had two chase starts.

"It’s a tricky one," Johnston said. "You just have to go with your gut, and I’ve just put off really thinking about it at the moment. We’ll take Sam’s input, and my agent will be sharp on the form.

"I always think the real top riders never seem to get it wrong. I don’t want to get it wrong too often or I’ll be down the pecking order."

Thomas trains locally in South Glamorgan and knows what it takes to win the endurance test having succeeded with the Stan Sheppard-ridden Iwilldoit in 2021, while Johnston is also eager to add the race to his record.

"Winning on the big days at your local track, it’s your turf, isn’t it?" he said. "It would mean everything to connections, and it would mean everything to me. I remember going to Leopardstown as a kid and the Welsh National would always coming up on the big screen. It would be a lovely one to tick off."

Jubilee Express will bid to become the fourth trial winner in a row to successfully follow up in the Welsh National, a feat achieved by Secret Reprieve (2020), Iwilldoit (2021) and Nassalam (2023). The 2022 trial winner Farinet did not run in the main race.

Shomen Uchi (left): a fascinating contender for the Welsh Grand National after just two chase startsCredit: John Grossick

"Jubilee Express is one of those big, burly horses and takes so much work," said Thomas. "There’s definitely more to come, especially as he’s now a bit more battle-hardened and has been in some bigger races; he knows what to expect. I think that goes a long way when you’re going into these big races, they are well prepared and know what’s about to happen.

"Shomen Uchi is a very different horse, a little bit classier than Jubilee Express. He’s always been held in high regard by all of us. He’s been very fragile, so he hasn’t had much racing, but what we’ve seen of him on the track has been good, and he comes into the race with a completely different profile. If he can align all the stars on the day, he could be a league above the other horse, but it’s a big unknown.”

Coral Welsh Grand National Handicap Chase, December 27
Coral: 6 Jubilee Express, 7 Mr Vango, 8 Git Maker, 10 Haiti Couleurs, O'Connell, Rock My Way, Shomen Uchi, 14 Collectors Item, Deafening Silence, Intense Raffles, 16 bar.

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