THE rescheduled Coral Welsh Grand National on Saturday (January 6) proved a day for records, as the race’s youngest ever winning jockey saddled the oldest ever horse to victory.

Racegoers also cheered the fact that 16-year-old James Bowen on 16-1 shot Raz De Maree was a homegrown Welsh rider.

The 13-year-old horse, runner-up a year ago, gave James “a peach of a ride,” said winning trainer Gavin Cromwell after overhauling Alfie Spinner, ridden by fellow Welsh jockey Richard Patrick, at the second last before galloping clear to win by six lengths.

Teen tyro Bowen said after winning the £150,000 Welsh showpiece: “You grow up watching these races at home and to win it in my first season riding is amazing.”

But early on, with the horse lagging at the back of the field, victory seemed a long way off, admitted the jockey.

“I thought I had a chance until we jumped the first,” joked Bowen, who will rarely have to push as hard in a race. “It certainly wasn’t the plan to be that far back.

“He didn’t travel anywhere with me and turning out of the back straight for the last time I still thought it would be something just to get around or placed. I thought if we are able to get round and finish in the places we’ll have done well.

“But once he’s got past the horses he has really locked on to Alfie Spinner and almost got there too soon in the end. He loves it and jumps so well.”

Cromwell added: “I’m delighted James accepted the ride – a few top jockeys rang up for it, but the horse is so small that taking 5lb off his back was important. He finds it hard jumping if he’s carrying over 11st.”

Final Nudge took third with 7-1 favourite Vintage Clouds fourth.

The original race was postponed on December 27 after heavy rainfall, the fourth time in eight years it has been called off. Chepstow racecourse executive director Phil Bell said they would have a debrief, but were unlikely to shift future dates, despite crowd numbers being at least halved by the postponement, with 5,500 attending at the weekend.

“All things considered we’re pleased and it was a great story that came out of the race, but clearly when you get one crack at the big day and it doesn’t work you’re a bit disappointed,” he added.

“But it’s the big Christmas celebration in Wales and has its slot in the calendar... so we have no intention of moving it.”