The National Hunt aficionados are spoilt for the plethora of racing that comes up thick and fast during the winter period. The Christmas Day hangover is quickly cured by the King George the day after, followed by the Boxing Day blues which are swiftly mellowed by the gruelling Coral Welsh Grand National.
The 3m6f staying chase around Chepstow has long epitomised the hardy nature of the thoroughbred, sculpted for the toughest of conditions which is often the case around Chepstow this time of year. There has been some memorable performances in recent years, such as Nassalam’s devastating thirty four length route in 2023 that saw him trounce the field with just four of the other eighteen runners finishing the contest.
Raz De Maree became the first teenager to win the race when fending off fellow thirteen year old Alfie Spinner in 2018 for Gavin Cromwell and then 5lbs claimer James Bowen, which came a year after a gallant performance from Native River in 2017 to become the first horse since Carvill’s Hill in 1991 to win the race off top-weight, with Colin Tizzard’s classy chaser going on to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup the following season, following on from Synchronised who won the Gold Cup two years after his Welsh Grand National success in 2010.
While the calibre of staying chase has certainly declined in recent years, with a prize pool of £170,000 the competitive nature remains ingrained and this years renewal looks set to be another Christmas cracker.
Market Contenders
Jubilee Express – Sam Thomas
Placed horses in the Welsh Grand National have a habit of coming back the following season to better their efforts and last year’s second Jubilee Express looks set to run a huge race to give Sam Thomas his second win in the race since Iwilldoit in 2021.
The son of No Risk At All is 6lbs well in at the weights after winning the Welsh Grand National Trial here last week, making all to away in good style from fellow stout stayer Collector’s Item with the pair pulling over thirty lengths clear of the third. He still races off the same mark as he did when second here last season, and the return to a longer trip on likely softer ground should see him give another gallant performance.
Mr Vango – Sara Bradstock
Ocovango gelding Mr Vango has made relentless progress since switched to staying chases with the sole blot on his copybook coming on ground deemed to lively when 4/1F for the Scottish Grand National in 2024. Since then his form figures read 1112, landing a London and Midlands National double with a Peter Marsh success sandwiched in between for good measure.
He returned in career best form this season when beaten a short head off top weight in the Becher Chase at Aintree last weekend running to an RPR of 161 with last years Welsh National winner Val Dancer in third, and should that race not have taken too much out of him then he’s sure to be staying on dourly in the finish here.
Git Maker – Jamie Snowden
Git Maker has long been touted as a horse to land one of these big staying chases. He was unfortunate to bump into a subsequent Gold Cup winner in Inothewayurthinkin in the 2024 Kim Muir before giving another solid effort when a four length second in the Scottish Grand National.
Last season appeared to be something of a write off with him, but he returned seemingly in good health when beaten nine-length in a pipe opener over hurdles on seasonal debut this term and he looks to have been absolutely primed for this by connections.
Haiti Couleurs – Rebecca Curtis
The Welsh Grand National has thus far eluded Welsh-born trainer Rebecca Curtis, but she may never have a better chance again to lands the home spoils with her classy chaser Haiti Couleurs. The Dragon Dancer gelding took his form to new heights last season when winning the National Hunt Chase Handicap at Cheltenham, before a rare novice chasing success in the Irish Grand National.
He won what was likely supposed to be a pipe opener over hurdles off top weight at Newbury on seasonal debut, before a terribly disappointing effort when 3/1 for the Betfair Chase. That effort has been attributed to a back injury and should he have overcome any niggling issues, then he’ll be a threat to all with connections still seemingly keeping the Gold Cup dream alive.
O’Connell – Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith
The Smith yard is synonymous with their staying chasers with their most notable success coming with Auroras Encore’s 66/1 success in the 2013 Aintree Grand National. The yard have been going through something of a transformation period, but since Harvey Smith’s grandson Joel Parkinson has had his name added to the license, the Eldwick based team have been in menacing form.
Westerner gelding O’Connell has continued his improving form this term, backing up last year’s success in the Sandown Masters Handicap Chase with a comfortable win in the London National last weekend. He was given an excellent ride from rear by Gavin Sheehan who jumped to the lead two out and powered away up the run in without doing too much in front.
He’s a horse who holds plenty back for himself, and he could be very tough to beat from 5lbs well in at the weights to continue the yard’s excellent season.
Outsiders To Consider
Shomen Uchi – Sam Thomas
Jubilee Express is evidently the yards best hope of returning to the Welsh Grand National winner enclosure, but the lightly raced Great Pretender gelding Shomen Uchi shouldn’t be written off. With form figures of 2162114, he’s evidently a talented yet fragile sort, but he was able to overcome a 701-day layoff to win on chase debut in February and he was an eye-catcher on his seasonal debut this season when never put into the contest at Haydock behind Top Of The Bill.
He made late progress in rear to collar Whistle Stop Tour for fourth and given he’s a half brother to connections’ staying chaser Katate Dori, this test could bring out further improvement in him.
Deafening Silence – Dan Skelton
2023 G2 Winter Beacons Novice winner hasn’t quite hit those same heights yet over fences despite a satisfactory debut in this sphere in the Graduation Chase behind Trelawne and Iroko, but he belatedly got his head in front in a three runner novice chase at Warwick last season and he caught the eye in the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle last month when second to the impressive Konfusion.
He looked outpaced once the race got serious, but he was able to stay on nicely for second toward the end and he shapes as if this trip on soft ground could see him scale new heights in this sphere.
Intense Raffles – Thomas Gibney
After landing the Irish Grand National on only his third start for Thomas Gibney, Aintree was the grand plan for this grey son of Martaline but he never went a yard over the fences after being bumped at the start. His talent is evidently there however, as he was only 3/4L behind the subsequent Grand National winner Nick Rockett in the Bobbyjo Chase, and his two runs this season haven’t been devoid of promise.
He began the season in the Clonmel Oil Chase when naturally outpaced over 2m5f behind Tingle Creek winner Il Etait Temps, but he shaped as if returning to form when eighth in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury, weakening late on. The extra four furlongs and softer ground will be beneficial, and his mark mightn’t be beyond him particularly with the potential of Ben Bromley claiming 5lbs once more.
Verdict
With just 10-5 to carry and the prospect of prime conditions, improving chaser O’Connell can claim the yard another belated big staying chase with Vintage Clouds’ Ultima the latest in 2021. He took his record in December to 14111 at Sandown last time out with the sole defeat a length
fourth in the Lincolnshire National, and he comes here on the back of another career best effort. He’s officially 5lbs well in and given his style of racing, where he saves plenty back for himself, this looks the perfect opportunity to land a valuable prize.
There is something Native River-esque about Haiti Couleurs in the gallant sense of the way he races, and provided he can put that Haydock blip behind him then he looks set to give another classy weight carrying performance to get his promising career swiftly back on track.
Mr Vango will be a threat to all, especially if conditions deteriorate as they so often do here, as he barely knows how to run a bad race with staying his forte. There is a suspicion that he’ll be vulnerable to something classier and/or better handicapped, but he’s as honest and tough as they come thus filling the frame looks inevitable.
- O’Connell
- Haiti Couleurs
- Mr Vango
FAQs: Welsh Grand National ante-post tips
When & where is the Welsh Grand National run?
The Welsh Grand National takes place every year on the day after Boxing Day at Chepstow, with this year’s renewal set to take place at 2.50pm on Saturday 27 December 2025.
When was this Welsh National ante-post tip published?
The Welsh Grand National ante-post preview was published at 3.42pm on Wednesday 10 December 2025.
Who is Matty Sutcliffe?
Matty Sutcliffe is one of GG’s newest contributors and is now a regular guest on our flagship Weekend Watch podcast. His angle is value bets, making him a perfect fit for our ante-post series.
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