Long-term plan delivers emotional Foxhunters' win for Joe O'Shea and assistant recovering from back break

Huw Edwards celebrates as he crosses the line in front on Gracchus De Balme to win the Foxhunters' ChaseCredit: Edward Whitaker

Gracchus De Balme delivered on a plan devised by trainer Joe O’Shea in the shadow of his assistant Hannah Roach enduring the “worst day of my life” back in November.

Roach broke her back in a gallops fall, after which O’Shea said he made a promise to her, one that Gracchus De Balme was able to keep with his bold-jumping victory on Thursday.

“We knew six months ago, we made a plan,” he said. “My head girl, Hannah, had a nasty accident on the gallops in November and I said ‘I’ll win this for you, don’t you worry’.

“The right horse won, the money was on and once he went past in front going past the Grand National start I said thank God we’ve won this.”

Gracchus De Balme had to battle back past Jet Plane on the run to the Elbow having been briefly headed, but once back in the lead he was not for passing under jockey Huw Edwards in the colours of owner Derek Malam.

What the winning assistant trainer said

Hannah Roach: "It's very emotional. It was the worst day of my life [when I broke my back], but this horse winning like this for Joe is just unbelievable. It's a great achievement and I can't believe he's won it again only four years after Cousin Pascal."

What the winning rider said

Huw Edwards, rider: “I don’t know what to say! He jumped and travelled and stayed on very well. It’s just great to be on him. It’s the big one for the amateurs and you dream of winning one.”