FINGERS are crossed that Abergavenny-raised trainer and Gold Cup-winning jockey Sam Thomas can get Iwilldoit to the start line next Tuesday (December 27), to defend the Coral Welsh Grand National title he won in dramatic style 12 months ago.

The nine-year-old was ridden by Stan Sheppard to glory at Chepstow to record the third Welsh win on home soil in three years, but has not raced since owing to a ‘niggling’ injury.

Sadly last year’s win in Wales’ biggest race took place behind closed doors, with the Welsh Government banning crowds just days before amid a Covid surge, even though rugby matches went ahead in nearby Bristol and Gloucester.

Iwilldoit stormed through the mud to win in front of an empty grandstand by 9L from Highland Hunter, giving Thomas his biggest win as a trainer to date, as only five runners completed the course.

But up to 12,000 racegoers are expected to flock to the Monmouthshire course for the 3 3/4-mile race next week, for the first time since 2019.

Whether Iwilldoit does it though, is still in the balance, with Thomas saying last week: “It will be touch and go whether he makes it. He had a long time off after the race. We will decide nearer the time.”

Thomas told Sporting Life: “He had a bit of a niggle after that race. We have just taken our time with him, and he is in full work, and whether we get him back at 100 per cent peak fitness for the Welsh National this time, I’m not sure.

“There are lots of other targets for him later in the season.

“The Welsh National may come a bit soon, but we are aiming him for that currently and if it doesn’t work out, then it doesn’t work out.

“It is not the end of the world. He still has no miles on the clock, so we will have to see.”

Thomas, who hit the heights as a jockey with Denman, feels Iwilldoit can develop into a top staying handicapper.

“He potentially could be a Grand National horse. I will have to have that conversation with the owners (Gwent-based syndicate Diamond Racing) and see what they want to do.

“He certainly stays now and it would be nice to have a runner in a race like that.”

Thomas, whose stables are near Bridgend, saddled more than 500 winners as a jockey, including Gold Cup victory on Denman in 2008.

Having retired from the saddle and set up as a trainer himself, he dreamed of landing Wales’ biggest race after Iwilldoit landed the National trial race at Chepstow weeks before last year’s race.

And his dream came true as Sheppard rode the 13/2 shot to a glory.

“I can’t put it into words, I can’t believe how emotional I am,” said Thomas after victory at the behind-doors event.

“I didn’t dare think for a minute that we were going to win. I know we had a chance, but it is incredible. I’m a bit overwhelmed by the whole experience.”

It was the third home win for a Welsh horse in three years, following a 54-year wait for one before Potters Corner in 2019 followed by Secret Reprieve in 2020.

“It’s tremendous to keep it in Wales. I am a proud Welshman and it hasn’t sunk in. It is what dreams are made of. Big targets keep your eye on the ball and it is what gets you out of bed every day. I have a fantastic team at home and this is a team effort.

“When he hit the front down the back and got into his rhythm, I thought all he had to do was stay on his feet really and he’d keep running his race.

“Stan gave him a lovely ride - it is a lot of pressure for a young jockey, but I’m delighted for him.”