The 2021/22 National Hunt season was an excellent campaign for Welsh trainer Christian Williams. He enhanced his reputation as one of the best handlers of staying chasers, landing numerous major prizes.
Williams’ stock in the sport is growing all the time, and if he can build on what he achieved last season, there could be some more trophies heading to Ogmore Farm before the campaign is over in April.
One of the races Williams will be targeting at the back end of the National Hunt season is the world’s most famous steeplechase, the Grand National. The Welshman is set to saddle 20/1 shot Win My Wings at Aintree. The nine-year-old mare is likely to be popular in the best horse racing tips for today for the marathon race, as she has shown she appreciates a stamina test.
Another of Williams’ targets will be the Cheltenham Festival in March. The four-day meeting in Gloucestershire features 28 races and it is considered the biggest week of the year in jumps racing.
Scottish Grand National Win Last Season
A big part of Williams’ success last season was down to the form of Win My Wings. She won three races, with the highlight being her victory in the Scottish Grand National at Ayr.
Williams’ runner beat 22 rivals over the 4m distance. She stayed on strongly at the end of the gruelling test, coming home at a canter in what was one of the best performances of the season in the staying handicap races.
As well as training the winner of the race, Williams also had the second in the contest, as Kitty’s Light chased home his stablemate. It meant the man from Wales picked up over £100,000 in prize money towards his standings for the season.
Before her start at Ayr, Win My Wings also won the Eider Handicap Chase at Newcastle. She justified the strong support behind her to score by just under two lengths. The talented chaser was unable to stretch her record to four straight wins at Sandown on her final start of the campaign, but she still ended the season with an official rating of 153 over fences. https://twitter.com/attheraces/status/1497594061015953408?lang=en-GB
Before her start at Ayr, Win My Wings also won the Eider Handicap Chase at Newcastle. She justified the strong support behind her to score by just under two lengths. The talented chaser was unable to stretch her record to four straight wins at Sandown on her final start of the campaign, but she still ended the season with an official rating of 153 over fences.
Cap Du Nord Also Proved His Class for Williams
There was also major success last season for Cap Du Nord. The nine-year-old chaser won a valuable Grade Three prize at Kempton back in February. Just like the Scottish Grand National, Kitty’s Light had to settle for second place in that race, making it a 1-2 for the Welsh operator.
Like he has done so often throughout his career, Cap Du Nord was full of running at the end of the 3m contest. He hit the front of the field with two furlongs to go and he never saw another rival at that point, recording a two and ¾ length success.
The seven-time winner will be one of the horses Williams will be hoping can have more success in staying handicap chases in the 2022/23 campaign. He could make his seasonal reappearance in October.
Although he achieved so much already in the sport, Williams has a bright future. He could one day emerge as a Champion Trainer contender.
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