Mountainous wins G3 Welsh National for Milan

The fabulously gutsy Mountainous (11g Milan-Mullaghcloga, by Glacial Storm) showed great resilience to add a second G3 Welsh National to his name when battling through testing underfoot conditions to score on Saturday. The Milan gelding, bred by Lady Melisssa Brooke, also took the Chepstow showpiece two years ago and took the lead on Saturday in the second circuit under Jamie Moore, battling doggedly to score by two and three-quarter lengths. It was the biggest success to date for trainer Kerry Lee, whose father Richard had overseen Mountainous for his previous Welsh National success. "I'm absolutely dumbstruck. It’s amazing - what a horse. I've known he's been very well this season and Jamie's given him a brilliant ride and I'm absolutely delighted,” said the winning trainer, who will aim Mounatinous at the Grand National at Aintree in April. "He's really been nurtured at home, we've looked after him so well. We don't over-race him, he really enjoys the facilities we've got at home and the way he's trained, the variety that we give them. "I think the Grand National has to be his target now this season, he really enjoys soft ground and this kind of trip, so it has to be on the cards."