Whereas Mel might not but know what the subsequent step is, she admits that the choice to enter the Welsh Nationwide for the primary time with Val Dancer was solely taken after Charlie Deutsch, who had received on him earlier than, then received comfortably over three miles two furlongs at Carlisle initially of November – and thought he would comfortably keep half a mile additional over the Welsh Nationwide’s three miles and 6 furlongs.
“We had been just a little bit reluctant to convey him however, when Charlie Deutsch rode him at Carlisle and mentioned that the horse was made for the Welsh Nationwide, that decided,” she mentioned.
“Charlie Deutsch was elsewhere, so our different Charlie (Hammond) took up the reins.”
Val Dancer has now received six occasions since he had his first run in Could 2022, ending second in a bumper – a flat race run beneath the foundations of bounce racing – at Worcester, then going over hurdles at Aintree within the November.
His first win shortly adopted at Bangor three weeks later and he then moved as much as steeplechase fences in November 2023 at Ludlow, adopted by three straight wins around the flip of the yr in heavy situations at Leicester, Wetherby and Catterick.
His three victories have been beneath three jockeys, Hammond, Deutsch and Alex Edwards, who’ve now all received on him twice. However this newest was not a whole shock to the Rowleys.
“We knew the horse was rather well,” mentioned Mel. “He is come of age this yr. He is grown a character and turn out to be way more assured in his personal capacity. We knew he was in a great place.
“He wants softer floor and one other concern was that it wasn’t going to be tender sufficient. But he is travelled so properly, possibly we will now contemplate all types of floor.
“However he’s solely seven. He has age on his facet. He’ll inform us. That is an important factor. He is bought loads of time.”