Hot on the heels of one of the signature chases on the British sporting calendar in the shape of the King George at Kempton comes the standout jumps contest of the Welsh season, as Chepstow plays host to the Welsh Grand National on December 27th.
With the final field of 20 contenders now declared, we have our confirmed list of runners and riders ahead of the 3m6½f jumping and staying showpiece. As ever, many of the biggest names amongst the trainers and jockeys are represented, as the field sets off in pursuit of a share of the £150,000 in total prize money.
Welsh Grand National: Confirmed Field of Runners and Riders
| Number | Horse | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iwilldoit | Dylan Johnston | Sam Thomas |
| 2 | Complete Unknown | Harry Cobden | Paul Nicholls |
| 3 | The Big Breakaway | Adam Wedge | Joe Tizzard |
| 4 | The Galloping Bear | Sam Twiston-Davies | Ben Clarke |
| 5 | Nassalam | Caoilin Quinn | Gary Moore |
| 6 | Chambard | Miss Lucy Turner | Venetia Williams |
| 7 | Iron Bridge | Jonjo O’Neill Jr | Jonjo O’Neill |
| 8 | Truckers Lodge | Freddie Gingell | Paul Nicholls |
| 9 | Only The Bold | Jack Tudor | David Pipe |
| 10 | Autonomous Gold | Paddy Brennan | Fergal O’Brien |
| 11 | Iceo Madrik | David Noonan | David Pipe |
| 12 | Super Survivor | Gavin Sheehan | Jamie Snowden |
| 13 | Amateur | Connor Brace | John Flint |
| 14 | Charlie Uberalles | Danny McMenamin | Dianne Sayer |
| 15 | Wayfinder | Lilly Pinchin | Rebecca Curtis |
| 16 | Blade Runner | Freddie Gordon | Chris Gordon |
| 17 | Max Dynamo | Rachel King | Emma-Jane Bishop |
| 18 | Domaine De L’Isle | Ned Fox | Sean Curran |
| 19 | Didero Vallis | Charlie Deutsch | Venetia Wiliams |
| 20 | Not Sure | Richard Patrick | Kerry Lee |
Highlights
The 2023 edition looks as wide open as ever, with a decent case to be made for well over half of the runners. Jamie Snowden’s Super Survivor heads the betting in most lists, having been targeted at the race since winning the 2m7½f novice handicap at this meeting in 2022. Subsequently finishing third in a competitive staying handicap at Market Rasen, he ran well to finish second to the useful Git Maker on his recent comeback and should be tuned up nicely for this assignment. With eight of the last 10 winners carrying less than 11st on the day, his burden of 10st5lb also looks a good fit on the trends.
With 10st9lb, Fergal O’Brien’s hattrick-seeking Autonomous Gold is another nicely weighted contender and is understandably proving popular with punters. Yet to finish outside the first two in five starts over fences, he is has not run over this far previously but is a dual winner at 3m and has the assistance of the experienced Paddy Brennan in the saddle.
Or perhaps we will have a repeat winner, as Sam Thomas’s 2021 hero Iwilldoit is also amongst the final list of entries. That proven ability to handle conditions counts for plenty, but a 13lb higher mark and welter burden of 12st may demand a career-best effort from the 10-year-old.
The famous Trevor Hemmings colours are a familiar site in Grand National contests, having been carried to Aintree glory by Hedgehunter, Ballabriggs, and Many Clouds. Bidding to add the Chepstow version to the late owner’s haul is the Jonjo O’Neill-trained Iron Bridge. Strong at the finish when only a head behind Autonomous Cloud over 3m at Uttoxeter, he is 4lbs better off with that rival here and looks the right type to go well – if able to bounce back from a pulled-up effort on his seasonal return at Newbury.
Multiple Champion Trainer Paul Nicholls rode Playschool to victory here in 1987 and has since bagged the race twice as a trainer with Silver Birch (2004) and L’Aventure (2005). Flying the flag for team Ditcheat this time around are Complete Unknown, who looked good on his seasonal return only to disappoint when sent off as favourite in the Coral Gold Cup, and Truckers Lodge, who has previously finished 2nd, 3rd, and 4th in this, and showed impressive reserves of stamina to land the London National last time out.
Others to note include Gary Moore’s Nassalam, who has come in for strong support in the market, The Big Breakaway, who found only The Two Amigos too good in the 2022 edition, and The Galloping Bear, who won’t need to find much improvement on his first start since a wind-op.
