The Welsh National at Chepstow ensures that Boxing Day is far from alone in hosting sensational racing after Christmas. Here at GG, we have looked in detail at this year’s contest along with 888’s new customer offer, where you can get £40 in Free Bets On Monday, when you sign-up and bet £10.
History
One of the most important occasions in the Welsh sporting calendar, the Welsh Grand National is the biggest jumps race in the country and attracts one of the biggest raceday crowds in the UK.
Before World War II disrupted proceedings in 1939, the race was run at the now defunct course of Ely near the Welsh capital of Cardiff. Moved to Chepstow from 1949 onwards, the race has gradually grown in stature, with directors keen on attracting the best field possible for their showpiece race.
The race’s distance of 3m5f ensures that throughout the list of winners, there are champion stayers who have gone onto Grand National glory as well as those who, under generally big weights, have been classy enough to challenge in and sometimes win the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
The challenge of alluring these runners was not easy; the Welsh Grand National was run at Easter time up to 1969 when it was moved to be run in February, a more strategic position in the racing calendar. Then, ten years later, it was translated to the other side of the new year, into its regular slot the day after Boxing Day.
Until such a time, only Rag Trade (1976) went on after his Welsh National triumph to win either of the above races of note: he of course took the 1976 Grand National ahead of Red Rum, two months after he had scored at Chepstow.
From 1979 however, the list becomes ever more impressive. Horses to double up at Aintree in the same season include Corbiere (1982) and Earth Summit (1997), while Silver Birch (2004) won his Grand National two seasons later in 2007. In reverse, Bindaree (2003) had already won his Grand National before he won the Welsh equivalent.
However, there have also been those who have reached even dizzier heights upon winning Wales’ biggest race. Burrough Hill Lad (1983) and Master Oats (1994) both left their handicap marks well behind by their seasons’ end, winning their respective Gold Cups a few months later. It took Cool Ground (1990) and Native River (2016) a little longer, but they both took home the Cheltenham Festival’s biggest prize the season after.
Although it is a shame that there are restricted crowds once again for this year’s renewal, it is excellent for the race that the home team have hit somewhat of a purple patch. Both Potters Corner (2019) and Secret Reprieve (2020) are trained in Welsh heartlands and a hat-trick could well be on the cards.
This Year’s Field
Secret Reprieve heads the market once again despite the fact that last year’s victory, which ended up coming in January after waterlogging, remains his last racecourse appearance. Perhaps because of the length of that break, he is only up 6lb for that triumph and is unexposed as a stayer, with the Grand National at Aintree almost certain to come into his radar at some point.
He is still only a seven-year-old, but despite this being a race that favours stamina above all else, only two horses aged older than nine have won since 1994. As such, all of those swarming just below Secret Reprieve in the market can be trusted that this is a reasonable target.
Chief among those is Irish raider The Big Dog for Peter Fahey. This season’s efforts have been far from his best, but with one of those having come over hurdles, he is almost certain to have been prepared for a more realistic proposition such as this. He is 11lb higher than the mark he won off in Punchestown’s Grand National Trial in February, but such has been the success of Irish runners in British handicaps in 2021 that that is not seen as too much of a problem.
Secret Reprieve had won the Welsh National Trial prior to victory last season and Iwilldoit for Sam Thomas fills those shoes this term. He is another who is unexposed over marathon trips and did win the trial by 24 lengths. A 10lb rise puts him perfectly onto the mark of 140 to race off 10st.
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Both Highland Hunter and Hold That Taught arrive off wins last time, though the latter is 6lb out the handicap and his form on return has not worked out. The former, however, took the London National at Sandown in the dying strides at the start of December and did nothing but improve last season.
Remarkably, there are four former winners of this race setting out to attempt the double. He may be rising 12, but Native River has still been competing at the top level. It is nevertheless an unenviable task for him to conceded 10lb and more all round these days.
Closest to him in the handicap is Elegant Escape, who won this in 2018 when as short as 3/1. He missed the entirety of last season, but has stamina to burn and is only 5lb higher than for that success.
And finally, Potters Corner, who seemed to have lost his way, only to run an almighty race for second in the recent cross country race at Cheltenham. He is 2lb out the handicap, but racing off a mark 5lb lower than for his victory two seasons ago. If truly revitalised, he is in with a massive chance.
Two Scottish runners are also of significant appeal. Hill Sixteen’s revised mark after the Becher Chase is actually 2lb higher than what he will race off here and he looked to stay all day over the Grand National fences, while Mighty Thunder won last season’s Scottish National over four miles and is race fit after an ambitious crack at the Charlie Hall.
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Big Race Verdict
This could be a very fun renewal of the Welsh National. With so many former winners attempting to do the double, it could be extremely exciting if any of those are in with a chance turning for home. Of those, Secret Reprieve, despite his layoff, and Potters Corner appeal more to Native River and Elegant Escape who simply seem too high in the weights. The Big Dog and Highland Hunter are other staying handicap winners with scope to improve over distance, but HILL SIXTEEN only just ran out of time in the Becher Chase, a performance for which a 4lb rise does not seem harsh. At the current prices, he may well take the step up in this contest.
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