Chepstow Welsh Grand National Betting Tips

The Welsh Grand National is the traditional feature at Chepstow over Christmas and this year there is a 20-strong field going to post.

The chief supporting race on a superb card is the Grade 2 Finale Juvenile Hurdle where the three-year-olds will take centre stage.

Here are tips for all eight races at Chepstow, including the big race at 2.50.

12.00pm – Play Coral Racing-Super-Series For Free Maiden Hurdle (2m31/2f)

This is a competitive opener and it can go to LARGY POET, who went off at 5/4 on his debut in a bumper at Ffos Las last month but could finish only fourth. He wasn’t suited by the slow pace that day and did all of his best work late on. There should be plenty of improvement forthcoming with that run under his belt, especially if there is a stronger pace here.

Selection: Largy Poet

12.30pm – Coral Get Closer To The Action Novices' Hurdle (2m)

This is another red-hot contest and the one who catches the eye is JACKPOT D’ATHOU. The Paul Nicholls-trained four-year-old won going away on his debut over hurdles over course and distance last month and the front two came nicely clear. A 7lb penalty will make life tougher, but there should be plenty more to come from this lightly raced four-year-old.

Selection: Jackpot D’Athou

1.05pm – Coral Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap Chase (2m31/2f)

A tough race to call that might go to Paul Nicholls and Harry Cobden again. They team up with QUEL DESTIN, who was never in danger when winning a match at Fontwell last time and recorded a solid time in the process. He is a course winner, so the return to this more galloping track will suit, and Nicholls often targets this meeting. There is every chance the champion trainer can register another win at the track.

Selection: Quel Destin

1.40pm – Coral Racing Club Join For Free Handicap Hurdle (2m71/2f)

There should be value on offer in this competitive handicap and the one to back is BELLS OF PETERBORO, who won this race two years ago and was second 12 months ago. He runs off a mark 3lb lower than for his win and 6lb lower than last year, so is well handicapped, and is fancied to bounce back from a disappointing run at Lingfield last time when favourite.

Selection: Bells Of Peterboro

2.10pm – Coral Finale Juvenile Hurdle (2m)

This looks like a match between Burdett Road and HARSH and preference is for the latter. Joseph O’Brien has been strong in the juvenile division in the past and Harsh improved significantly on his hurdles debut defeat at Punchestown when an easy winner at Cork this month. He will need to improve on that to win here, but this is just his third hurdles run.

Selection: Harsh

2.50pm – Coral Welsh Grand National Handicap Chase (3m61/2f)

The feature of the entire season at Chepstow and SUPER SURVIVOR appears to have had the perfect preparation. Trainer Jamie Snowden has had this race in mind since Super Survivor bolted up in the novice handicap chase on this card last year and he had a nice prep when second at Lingfield last month. That meant he avoided a penalty, which he would have got had he won there, and a big run is expected from 5lb higher than when winning last year.

Selection: Super Survivor

3.25pm – New Bet-In-Race With Coral Handicap Chase (2m)

The most interesting horse here is AGGAGIO, who has been in superb form on the Flat this summer without winning and his last run over obstacles resulted in victory at Haydock in April. He starts out over fences off a mark of 117 and Caoilin Quinn takes 3lb off his back. There should be improvement to come from Aggagio over fences and trainer Gary Moore often starts his best chasers off in handicaps, just like he is doing here.

Selection: Aggagio

3.55pm – Coral Committed To Safer Gambling Open National Hunt Flat Race (2m)

This looks like a match between Kap Boy and ROCKING MAN and it’s the latter who is taken to end the card a winner. Rocking Man was impressive when scoring over course and distance on his debut and recorded a better time figure than his main rival. With further improvement to come on just his second start, I’m expecting Rocking Man to win again before going on to better things when switched to hurdles.

Selection: Rocking Man