Face storms through the Valley to make Burton a Derby winner

FACE THE STORM completed an unbeaten run through the competition to land the £5,000 final of the Star Sports Welsh Derby over 460m at Valley.

It was yet another contrasting style of success for the Mike Burton-trained dog who had come from last to first in the heats then made all in record time in the semi-finals as this time he raced in mid-division early as the field sorted themselves out.

General scrimmaging allowed the inside runner, Simpson Sniper, to go round ahead but the writing was on the wall when Face The Storm turned third and he duly quickly took second and closed in rapidly on the pacesetter.

Leader Simpson Sniper was game and gave his all but Face The Storm predictably proved too strong and scored by two lengths in 27.87sec with Sawpit Sunshine over seven lengths back in third.

Owned by the Severn Racing Club, the winner thus became the first Welsh Derby winner under licensed rules since the Barbara Tompkins-trained Instant Gambler at Cardiff's Arms Park venue back in 1977.

Afterwards winning trainer Burton told Emily Wallis from Star Sports: "The fact that he didn't break didn't worry me too much because last week was the only time he'd ever done that.

"I do know he's got a big heart and he's come from behind on many occasions . . .  he ate the ground up down the back and finished off the leader on the run-in.

"It's taken a long time but I'm now a Derby-winning trainer!"