Chepstow Betting Tips

Welsh Grand National Betting Tips

The Welsh Grand National at Chepstow is a race steeped in history. It is one of the most prestigious staying chases in the UK and the winner of this contest often goes into the Grand National at Aintree with a great chance of completing a double.

Run over 3m6½f, stamina is the key to victory in this race. In 2021 the contest was won by a Welsh-based trainer, as Iwilldoit prevailed for Sam Thomas. Previous winners also include Earth Summit, Bindaree, Synchronised and Native River.

Hat-Trick Seeking Quick Wave Can Have More National Success

Since having wind surgery in 2021, Quick Wave has not put a foot wrong. She comes into this year’s Welsh Grand National looking to complete a hat-trick, and despite having a 4lb penalty on her back, she may outstay her rivals here.

The nine-year-old looked a long way ahead of the handicapper when she scored by 14 lengths in a handicap chase at Ludlow over 3m1f back in January. Had she not been eased by jockey Harry Bannister in the run to the finish line, the margin of victory would have been even wider.

On her opening start of the campaign, the mare won the London National at Sandown where a step up to 3m5f proved no problem for her. She looked very strong at the finish of that race.

Venetia Williams’ runner is set to go up 9lb in the future, so she is 5lb well in at the weights for this assignment. With wins on Good-To-Soft, Soft and Heavy ground, connections will not be concerned about the ground conditions at Chepstow on December 27th, as she can handle whatever is thrown at her.

Williams won this race in 2000 and 2014 with Jocks Cross and Emperor’s Choice respectively. She will be confident of completing a treble as her mare remains open to improvement over this marathon trip.

The Big Breakaway Can’t Be Ruled Out for Team Tizzard

The Big Breakaway is a little unfortunate to have only scored once so far over fences. As a novice chaser, he finished second in the Grade One Kauto Star Novices’ Chase behind Shan Blue.

Joe Tizzard’s runner made a pleasing seasonal reappearance at Haydock last month, finishing second of 10 horses in a 3m1½f contest. He went down by just a head behind Fontaine Collonges. That race should have sharpened him up for this latest challenge.

The seven-year-old is untested over this stamina trip, however, his connections would not be running him in this race if they did not feel he would stay the distance. At the latest declaration stage, The Big Breakaway is the only horse left for the Tizzard team. That could suggest they have a lot of confidence in his chances.

Native River and Elegant Escape were successful for the Tizzards in 2016 and 2018 respectively. Although their latest challenger has yet to reach the level those two horses did before this race, but he is still young, and this stiffer challenge might now be appreciated.