14:50 Chepstow 27 Dec 2025
Coral Welsh Grand National Handicap Chase
Premier Handicap | GBB Race | Class 1 | 4YO plus
Winner £96,815 - 17 ran
disputed lead, led outright before 8th, a length clear 4 out, 2 lengths clear 3 out where not fluent, soon ridden, briefly went clear before last, kept on well
midfield, ridden before 5 out, headway to chase leaders before 2 out, chased winner approaching last, kept on, no extra near finish
close up in touch, chased winner 5 out, soon pushed along, 2 lengths down 3 out, not fluent 2 out, soon outpaced by winner, lost second approaching last, kept on same pace
midfield, in touch with leaders before 5 out, soon ridden to chase leaders, outpaced before 3 out, lost third before 2 out, kept on same pace run-in
disputed lead, headed before 8th, not fluent 16th, mistake 18th, not fluent 5 out, soon driven, faded before 3 out
close up in touch, ridden and outpaced before 5 out, headway 4 out, kept on same pace before last
held up in midfield, ridden and outpaced before 5 out, no impression before 2 out
midfield, ridden before 5 out, soon outpaced, weakened before 2 out
midfield, ridden and outpaced before 5 out where slow jump, soon weakened
held up in midfield, ridden and weakened before 5 out
midfield, dropped to rear 8th, pulled up 15th
always in rear, pulled up before 5 out
midfield, not fluent 1st, pushed along before 5 out, soon outpaced, not fluent 3 out, fell 2 out
never travelling, always in rear, pulled up 15th
disputed lead, headed before 8th, not fluent 14th, mistake 15th, soon lost position, driven before 17th, weakened and pulled up 5 out
always in rear, pulled up 16th
always in rear, pulled up before 4 out
Betting returns
| Type | Winnings |
|---|---|
| CSF | £48.17 (2, 9) |
| Tricast | £1,194.31 (2, 9, 12) |
| Win | £6.00 (2) |
| Place | £1.90 (2), £2.50 (9), £4.20 (12), £4.00 (15) |
| Swinger | £10.10 (2, 9), £22.30 (2, 12), £17.70 (9, 12) |
| Exacta | £61.50 (2, 9) |
| Trifecta | £3,036.80 (2, 9, 12) |
Expert Analysis
The ground was clearly much quicker than the official description of good to soft. This resulted in a very different type of race with the first three horses to finish all jumping the first fence in the prominent group of horses. The heavily backed favourite ran poorly on ground much faster than he could handle, leaving the second favourite, Haiti Couleurs, to come home in front after racing to the fore throughout. Jumping the second fence, the first two horses home were already positioned in the first four places in a race where none of the holdup horses were able to make up ground.
HAITI COULEURS This was a fairly straightforward victory as Sean Bowen took up the running leaving the back straight with a circuit and a half to go and never looked like relinquishing that lead. The front end was the place to be, and he probably held a significant advantage over many of his rivals given the positive ride he received. He carried a big weight to victory which may have been that bit more difficult if the ground had been good to soft as officially described.
O’CONNELL After racing just behind the leading group he made up plenty of ground in the home straight and briefly looked a danger to the impressive winner on the approach to the final fence. He is clearly an out and out stayer and one that would have been suited to a much softer surface.
DEAFENING SILENCE Even on ground that was on the quick side of good I don’t think he quite managed to see out this distance. He has proved himself suited to much softer ground in the past so has done well here to show some versatility despite probably not quite seeing out this extended three-and-a-half-mile trip.
LIVIN ON LUCO Although he was in receipt of two stone from the winner after taking his jockey’s claim into account, he has still acquitted himself well. He should continue to be competitive in long distance chases, particularly when dropped in grade.
MONBEG GENIUS He held an advantage by racing prominently throughout but ultimately struggled to remain competitive in the closing stages on ground that was much quicker than ideal.
ROCK MY WAY After losing his position with a serious error at the 16th fence he began to make progress again off the turn for home. The promise of his progress soon petered out as he dropped away quickly in between the fourth last and third last fence. The strong support for him in the market presumably had plenty to do with him being much better off at the weights with Haiti Couleurs from when finishing four and a half lengths behind the Rebecca Curtis horse at Cheltenham on much worse terms in March.
JUBILEE EXPRESS Although he raced prominently for over half of the race, he really had no chance on ground riding much quicker than the official description of good to soft. A race like the Midlands National at Uttoxeter in March should be more in his favour.
Video Highlights
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Replay: 14:50 Chepstow 27th Dec 2025 -
Post-Race Reaction: 27th Dec 2025 -
Post-Race Reaction: 27th Dec 2025
Previous winners
| Year | Going | Ran | Winner | Draw | Age | Weight | OR | Form | Last run | Trainer (Distance) | Jockey | SP | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Soft | 15 | Val Dancer | 7 | 10 6 | 126 | 11133-1 | 54 days | Mrs M Rowley (79 miles) | Charlie Hammond | 8/ 1 | 8:16.34 | |
| 2023 | Heavy | 19 | Nassalam | 6 | 11 6 | 141 | 6307-41 | 18 days | G & J Moore (128 miles) | Caoilin Quinn | 9/ 2 | 8:47.39 | |
| 2022 | Soft | 17 | The Two Amigos | 10 | 10 6 | 127 | F242-73 | 27 days | Nicky Martin (76 miles) | David Prichard | 16/ 1 | 8:18.29 | |
| 2021 | Soft | 20 | Iwilldoit | 8 | 10 0 | 136 | 16273-1 | 23 days | S Thomas (31 miles) | Stan Sheppard | 13/ 2 | 8:29.21 | |
| 2021 | Soft | 18 | Secret Reprieve | 7 | 10 1 | 130 | 5522-F1 | 35 days | Evan Williams (38 miles) | Adam Wedge | 5/ 2 | 8:07.80 | |
| 2019 | Heavy | 17 | Potters Corner | 9 | 10 11 | 145 | F1-5P01 | 20 days | Christian Williams (45 miles) | Jack Tudor | 8/ 1 | 8:21.60 | |
| 2018 | Soft | 20 | Elegant Escape | 6 | 11 8 | 151 | 2133-12 | 26 days | C L Tizzard (60 miles) | Tom O'Brien | 3/ 1 | 7:49.50 | |
| 2018 | Heavy | 20 | Raz De Maree | 13 | 11 1 | 140 | UP0-F22 | 32 days | G P Cromwell | James Bowen | 16/ 1 | 8:14.10 | |
| 2016 | Soft | 20 | Native River | 6 | 11 12 | 151 | 3321-21 | 31 days | C L Tizzard (60 miles) | Richard Johnson | 11/ 4 | 7:52.70 | |
| 2016 | Heavy | 20 | Mountainous | 11 | 10 6 | 132 | P65-536 | 35 days | Kerry Lee (61 miles) | Jamie Moore | 9/ 1 | 8:26.50 | |
| 2014 | Heavy | 19 | Emperor's Choice | 7 | 10 8 | 131 | 12PP-24 | 21 days | Miss V Williams (35 miles) | Aidan Coleman | 9/ 1 | 8:06.20 | |
| 2013 | Heavy | 20 | Mountainous | 8 | 10 0 | 137 | 1241-33 | 21 days | R Lee (61 miles) | P Moloney | 20/ 1 | 7:55.70 | |
| 2013 | Heavy | 17 | Monbeg Dude | 8 | 10 1 | 128 | 213P-U1 | 49 days | M Scudamore (29 miles) | Paul Carberry | 10/ 1 | 7:56.10 | |
| 2011 | Heavy | 20 | Le Beau Bai | 8 | 10 1 | 127 | 3P-0P71 | 24 days | R Lee (61 miles) | Charlie Poste | 10/ 1 | 7:54.40 | |
| 2011 | Soft | 18 | Synchronised | 8 | 11 6 | 150 | 1131-56 | 29 days | J & A O'Neill (38 miles) | A P McCoy | 5/ 1 | 7:54.00 | |
| 2009 | Heavy | 18 | Dream Alliance | 8 | 10 8 | 142 | 2PUPP-2 | 54 days | P Hobbs & J White (76 miles) | Tom O'Brien | 20/ 1 | 8:04.80 | |
| 2008 | Soft | 20 | Notre Pere | 7 | 11 0 | 152 | F63P-41 | 34 days | J T R Dreaper | A Lynch | 16/ 1 | 7:39.80 | |
| 2007 | Soft | 20 | Miko de Beauchene | 7 | 10 5 | 135 | 51P2U-2 | 27 days | R Alner (74 miles) | Andrew Thornton | 13/ 2 | 7:46.40 | |
| 2006 | Soft | 20 | Halcon Genelardais | 6 | 11 3 | 147 | 41115-1 | 39 days | A King (53 miles) | Wayne Hutchinson | 7/ 1 | 7:40.90 | |
| 2005 | Good to Soft | 18 | L'Aventure | 6 | 10 4 | 131 | 6440-64 | 46 days | P F Nicholls (43 miles) | Leighton Aspell | 14/ 1 | 7:38.90 |
