Welsh Grand National Tips
The second biggest race of the Christmas period in Britain is the Welsh Grand National (14:50) at Chepstow and it will be a gruelling test.
Alongside the big race there is also the Grade 2 Finale Juvenile Hurdle (13:40), which has been won by some top-class performers in the past.
There are seven races in all at Chepstow on Friday and we have selected our best bets.
12:00 - Novices’ Hurdle (2m)
This provides a good opportunity for CLAP OF THUNDER, who was fourth over course and distance on his hurdling debut in October and has shown improved form since. He was successful at Ascot last month and finished a close fifth in a red-hot novice handicap hurdle at Cheltenham last time, one place ahead of a subsequent winner. A reproduction of that form would probably be good enough for him to record a second victory over hurdles. Selection: Clap Of Thunder
12:30 - Handicap Hurdle (2m)
This is a competitive race but the one to be interested in is HEDERA PARK. She is a big outsider, but her sole start at Chepstow resulted in victory over 17 rivals in a handicap hurdle last month and she is definitely better than she showed at Windsor last time when the right nature of that course wouldn’t have suited her. The return here is definitely in her favour and Debra Hamer has her string in top form, so there could be more to come from Hedera Park. Selection: Hedera Park
13:05 - Handicap Chase (2m31/2f)
Lowry’s Bar is going to be popular at the head of the market but don’t underestimate EDEN DU HOUX. He hasn’t stood much racing recently, but is well handicapped on the pick of his form and ran his best race in this month last year when a close fourth at Ascot. He is 7lb lower in the weights now and should be all the better for his recent reappearance, when he was pulled up over an inadequate 2m1/2f. The extra three furlongs here are in Eden Du Houx’s favour and he might be capable of springing a surprise.
Selection: Eden Du Houx
13:40 - Finale Juvenile Hurdle (2m)
The French raider Nietzsche Has sets a high standard, but has been beaten a few times recently at home and might be vulnerable again. The one to back is MY NOBLE LORD, who has been campaigned like a good horse by Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero. He made his debut over course and distance and ran out a comfortable winner before failing to get competitive in Grade 2 company at Cheltenham last time. There was room for improvement in his jumping that day, but returning to this course might suit him and he can bounce back.
Selection: My Noble Lord
14:10 - Handicap Hurdle (2m71/2f)
A wide-open race that might be between PHANTOMOFTHEPOINTS and Madaket. Preference is for the David Pipe-trained Phantomofthepoints, who was impressive when winning by a wide margin at this course in April and that was over 2m. He stepped up a mile in distance when third in the old fixed brush hurdle at Haydock last time behind Shoot First and that was probably a stronger race than this. The return to Chepstow will definitely suit and there should be plenty more improvement to come given he is unexposed at the trip.
Selection: Phantomofthepoints
14:50 - Welsh Grand National Handicap Chase (3m61/2f)
The big race of the day and the one to back is ATLANTA BRAVE. He won his sole start at this course over hurdles and will probably have been trained with this race in mind. He was pulled up on his seasonal reappearance at Cheltenham in October, but showed more when beaten only five lengths into fourth at Uttoxeter last time. He is only a six-year-old, but young horses have a superb recent record in this race with three of the last 10 winners being aged six. That suggests Atlanta Brave might be up to the task despite his relative inexperience.
Selection: Atlanta Brave
15:25 - Handicap Chase (2m)
The last race can go to DR T J ECKLEBURG, who comfortably beat the subsequent winner General Medrano when scoring at Haydock last time and is equally well suited by this course. The selection has recorded two of his five highest Racing Post Ratings at the track and now returns here following a career-best effort. There should be more to come now that he is back at Chepstow and this second-season novice also has scope for further progress. Selection: Dr T J Eckleburg