Carruthers so brave

Carruthers (6/1) put up a brave display to win the William Hill West Wales National under amateur Nico de Boinville.

The 2011 Hennessy hero dug deep on the run-in at the end of three and a half gruelling miles to hold Cannington Brook by two and a quarter lengths.

Mark Bradstock's stable star, a course winner on Boxing Day, shared pace-making duties with Shaking Hands until the latter cried enough.

After that there was only Cannington Brook standing between Carruthers and glory. And try as Cannington Brook might, he could not get past the gallant winner.

The first two drew 32 lengths of Alfie Spinner in third.

"He's a complete superstar to ride. He's a privilege to ride and he teaches me," said De Boinville.

"He came up out of my hands a couple of times and he just loves it.

"I wondered if we were going to get home as we went a good gallop, but he kept on pulling out more. He heard the other horse coming and he just found that extra.

"He's a horse with real heart."

There was a sting in the tail as De Boinville was banned for two days for using his whip above the permitted level.