Who will be running in the Welsh Grand National today and who should you back?
A marathon test of stamina awaits at Chepstow as a top-class field of 19 lines up for the Coral Welsh Grand National (2.50), Wales’s biggest jumps race.
Run over nearly four miles and 23 fences, the Premier Handicap Chase regularly pushes even the toughest stayers to their limits.
Several runners arrive with major marathon prizes already on their CV, including Haiti Couleurs, Mr Vango, Intense Raffles and Nassalam - they all head to the post looking to prove their stamina once more.
Jubilee Express arrives with the standout form after landing the Welsh National Trial earlier this month and heads the betting market at a best price of 5/1 with William Hill.
Meanwhile Intense Raffles, the 2024 Irish Grand National hero, must defy a top weight of 12st.
Local pride is on the line with the 2025 Irish Grand National winner Haiti Couleurs, who bids to keep the prize in Wales.
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Welsh Grand National Runners Guide
1. Jubilee Express – 5/1
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Form: /26-01
Age: 8
Weight: 10-3 (lbs)
Trainer: S Thomas
Jockey: Kielan Woods
Dam: Bella Lawena
Sire: No Risk At All -
Notes: Winner of a hurdle and two chases from 2m 4f to 3m 4f. Latest win came at Chepstow over 3m, beating Collectors Item by 2½l. Carries 4lb penalty.
2. Rock My Way – 11/2
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Form: 225-01
Age: 7
Weight: 10-13
Trainer: J Tizzard
Jockey: Brendan Powell
Dam: Far Rock
Sire: Getaway -
Notes: Has won hurdles, chases, and a point-to-point from 2m 4f to 3m 5f. Latest win at Ascot over 3m 5f by 11l.
3. Git Maker – 17/2
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Form: /030-3
Age: 9
Weight: 10-6
Trainer: Jamie Snowden
Jockey: Gavin Sheehan
Dam: Bamos
Sire: Saddler Maker -
Notes: Winner of three hurdles, three chases, and a point-to-point. Last win over two years ago; third behind Ikarak last month.
4. Uncle Bert – 17/2
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Form: 3159-1
Age: 8
Weight: 10-9
Trainer: N & W Twiston-Davies
Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
Dam: Azza
Sire: Pethers Moon -
Notes: Winner of five hurdles and a chase from 2m to 3m. Latest win at Aintree over 2m 4f by 10l; carries 4lb penalty.
5. O’Connell – 9/1
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Form: 112-31
Age: 9
Weight: 10-9
Trainer: J Parkinson & S Smith
Jockey: Danny McMenamin
Dam: Brixen
Sire: Westerner -
Notes: Winner of five chases and a point-to-point. Latest win at Sandown over 3m 5f by 4l; carries 4lb penalty.
6. Haiti Couleurs – 10/1
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Form: 311-1P
Age: 8
Weight: 11-13
Trainer: Miss R Curtis
Jockey: Sean Bowen
Dam: Inchala
Sire: Dragon Dancer -
Notes: Winner of three hurdles and four chases from 2m 7f to 3m 6f. Pulled up in Grade 1 Betfair Chase last month.
7. Mr Vango – 10/1
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Form: /111-2
Age: 9
Weight: 11-11 p t
Trainer: S Bradstock
Jockey: Jack Tudor
Dam: African Miss
Sire: Ocovango -
Notes: Winner of a hurdle, four chases, and a point-to-point. Latest: second at Aintree over 3m 2f by a short head.
8. Collectors Item – 11/1
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Form: 21P8-2
Age: 8
Weight: 10-8
Trainer: J & A O’Neill
Jockey: K Brogan
Dam: Leading Lady
Sire: Flemensfirth -
Notes: Winner of two hurdles and two chases from 2m to 3m 3f. Second to Jubilee Express over 3m here last month.
9. Dom Of Mary – 14/1
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Form: 28P-31
Age: 9
Weight: 10-2
Trainer: James Owen
Jockey: R P McLernon
Dam: Antinea Marie
Sire: Saddler Maker -
Notes: Winner of a hurdle, NH flat race, three chases, and a point-to-point from 2m 3f to 3m 6f. Latest win over 3m 6f at Newcastle.
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10. Deafening Silence – 20/1
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Form: 4215-2
Age: 8
Weight: 10-5
Trainer: D Skelton
Jockey: Tristan Durrell
Dam: Taipers
Sire: Alkaadhem
Dam’s Sire: Taipan -
Notes: Winner of two hurdle races, a chase, and a point-to-point from 2m 4f to 3m on varying ground (good to heavy). Latest run: second of 8 at Newcastle over 2m 7f, beaten 15l by Konfusion. Solid staying profile, well-handicapped for a long trip.
11. Livin On Luco – 22/1
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Form: 16P3-1
Age: 7
Weight: 10-2
Trainer: P Hobbs & J White
Jockey: Callum Pritchard
Dam: Andreas Answer
Sire: Malinas -
Notes: Winner of a hurdle and two chases from 2m 3f to 3m 4f. Latest win at Fontwell over 3m 4f by a neck.
12. Monbeg Genius – 25/1
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Form: 41P6-P
Age: 9
Weight: 11-3
Trainer: J & A O’Neill
Jockey: Jonjo O’Neill Jr.
Dam: Ella Watson
Sire: Shantou
Dam’s Sire: Supreme Leader -
Notes: Winner of two hurdles and four chases from 2m 4f to 3m on good to soft ground. Latest outing: pulled up at Aintree over 3m 2f in a chase won by Twig. Stays the trip but comes off a heavy defeat.
13. Tanganyika – 28/1
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Form: 112-5P
Age: 7
Weight: 10-13
Trainer: Miss V Williams
Jockey: Charlie Deutsch
Dam: Norita Has
Sire: Martaline
Dam’s Sire: Kapgarde -
Notes: Winner of four hurdles and two chases from 2m to 3m on good to soft and heavy ground. Latest run: pulled up 3 out at Sandown over 3m 5f in a chase won by O’Connell. Stays well but comes off a below-par effort.
14. Hung Jury – 33/1
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Form: -14812
Age: 10
Weight: 10-2
Trainer: M Keighley
Jockey: Thomas Bellamy
Dam: Mooneys Valley
Sire: Court Cave -
Notes: Winner of two chases and five point-to-points. Latest: second to O’Connell over 3m 5f at Sandown.
15. Intense Raffles – 40/1
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Form: 02P-38
Age: 7
Weight: 12-0
Trainer: T Gibney
Jockey: Bryony Frost
Dam: Une Artiste
Sire: Martaline -
Notes: Winner of two hurdles, a NH flat, and three chases from 1m 4f to 3m 5f. Beaten 20l behind Panic Attack at Newbury last month.
16. Beaufort Scale – 40/1
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Form: /43213U9100-7027277
Age: 6
Weight: 10-2
Trainer: Gordon Elliott
Jockey: Paddy Hanlon
Dam: Carrigeen Aspen
Sire: Sholokhov
Dam’s Sire: Indian River -
Notes: Stayed on late to finish second in an amateur riders’ chase at Cheltenham in October. Has struggled to match that form in two races back in Ireland. Trainer notes he “ran a huge race at Cheltenham and doesn’t have many miles on the clock.” Stays well, lightly raced for a staying chaser.
17. Where It All Began – 50/1
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Form: P0FP-P
Age: 9
Weight: 10-2
Trainer: G Elliott
Jockey: C O’Farrell
Dam: Peggy Cullen
Sire: Yeats -
Notes: Successful over hurdles and chases from 2m 5f to 3m 3f. Pulled up in latest at Navan over 3m.
18. Nassalam – 50/1
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Form: /PP-PP
Age: 8
Weight: 11-4
Trainer: G & J Moore
Jockey: Caoilin Quinn
Dam: Ramina
Sire: Dream Well -
Notes: Winner of two hurdles and five chases; last victory over two years ago. Pulled up at Cheltenham last month.
19. Pats Fancy – 100/1
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Form: 6PP-46
Age: 10
Weight: 10-2
Trainer: Miss R Curtis
Jockey: Jamie Brace
Dam: Pats Darling
Sire: Oscar
Dam’s Sire: Supreme Leader -
Notes: Winner of a hurdle and two chases from 2m 4f to 3m. Last victory over four years ago; latest run: sixth of 9 at Chepstow over 3m. Likely to struggle from the back of the handicap.
Welsh Grand National Tips
Tip: COLLECTORS ITEM
Best odds of 11/1 at the time of publishing.
Architect Tips has picked out a 11/1 shot in the big race.
Jonjo O’Neill has a good record in the Welsh National, and off a handy weight, COLLECTORS ITEM could go well. He’s unproven over this distance, but has often shaped like it would suit when on a going day, likewise when staying on well to finish second in last season’s London National. I liked his comeback run when runner-up here earlier this month, and that eye-catching pipe opener should have put him spot on for this assignment. Five places are widely available.
