As the year 2025 nears its end, the Chepstow Racecourse gets ready for one of its biggest National Hunt steeplechases, the Coral Welsh Grand National. If you are looking for an event to direct your post-Christmas and Boxing Day cheer to, this seems like the right fit!
The richest chase in Wales is hosted by the Chepstow Racecourse. Its history goes back to the beginning of the 20th century, where in the 1920s it was opened first as a flat race course. The first jump race took place two years after its establishment.
Since then, the Chepstow Racecourse has been operating throughout the year, offering jump races in the winter season and flat races in the summer season. It hosts a number of notable races, including the Welsh Grand National, one of Britain’s Premier handicap chases.
The meeting takes place on 27 December every year, and in 2025 this happens to be a Saturday. The Play Coral “Racing-Super-Series” For Free Novices’ Hurdle Race will open this year’s meeting as its first race, while The Coral “We’re Here For It”’ Handicap Steeple Chase will close the event.
The eponymous The Coral Welsh Grand National Handicap Steeple Chase is scheduled in the second half of the day, right before the closing chase.
Key Dates & Timings
The Coral Welsh Grand National 2025 will be conducted in the last week of December and last for one day. The event will include seven races. The entire meeting is called after its headline race.
Day One: Coral Welsh Grand National
- When: Saturday, 27 December
- Gate opening: 10:00 am
- First race: 12:00 pm
- Headline race: 2:50 pm
- Last race: 3:25 pm
- After race entertainment: approx. 3:40 pm
The daily race card for the Coral Welsh Grand National 2025 is as follows:
Saturday, 27 December
Going: chase course: good to soft (soft in places); hurdle course: good to soft (soft in places)
| Time | Race | Distance | Conditions |
| 12:00 pm | THE PLAY CORAL “RACING-SUPER-SERIES” FOR FREE NOVICES’ HURDLE RACE (CLASS 3) (Novices’ Championship Hurdle Series Qualifier) (GBB RACE) (CL 3) | About two miles
(2m 16 yds) |
4YO+ £17,400.00 |
| 12:30 pm | THE CORAL RACING CLUB JOIN FOR FREE HANDICAP HURDLE RACE (CLASS 4) (CL 4) | About two miles
(2m 16 yds) |
3YO+ £16,500.00 Rating 0-115 |
| 1:05 pm | THE CORAL “PIPPED-AT-THE POST” AND WIN HANDICAP STEEPLE CHASE (CLASS 4) (GBB RACE) (CL 4) | About two miles
(2m 16yds) |
4YO+ £17,000.00 Rating 0-120 |
| 1:40 pm | THE CORAL FINALE JUVENILE HURDLE RACE (CLASS 1) (Grade 2) (GBB RACE) (CL 1) | About two miles
(2m 16 yds) |
3YO £80,000.00 |
| 2:10 pm | THE CORAL “DAILY REWARDS SHAKER” HANDICAP HURDLE RACE (CLASS 2) (GBB RACE) (CL 2) | Two miles seven and a half furlongs
(2m 7f 131yds) |
4YO+ £30,000.00 Rating 0-145 |
| 2:50 pm | THE CORAL WELSH GRAND NATIONAL HANDICAP STEEPLE CHASE (CLASS 1) (PREMIER HANDICAP) (GBB RACE) (CL 1) | Three miles about six and a half furlongs
(3m 6f 136yds) |
4YO+ £170,000.00 |
| 3:25 pm | THE CORAL ”WE’RE HERE FOR IT” HANDICAP STEEPLE CHASE (CLASS 2) (GBB RACE) (CL 2) | Two miles about three and a half furlongs
(2m 3f 98yds) |
4YO+ £35,000.00 |
Headline Races at the Welsh Grand National 2025
The Coral Welsh Grand National 2025 includes 7 races conducted during one day of the event. The meeting caters to the tastes of the motley crew of race enthusiasts who will be visiting the Chepstow Racecourse on 27 December by presenting various conditions, tracks, and runners.
Welsh Grand National Handicap Chase (Saturday, 27 December)
The Coral Welsh Grand National Handicap Chase is a Premier Handicap National Hunt steeplechase that accepts both male and female horses aged four years or older. It is run over the distance of about 3 miles and 6 1⁄2 furlongs (3 miles 6 furlongs and 130 yards, or 6,154 metres) and includes twenty three fences to be jumped.
Established in 1895, the chase was originally held at the Ely Racecourse in Cardiff. It has since changed its venue several times, until arriving at the Chepstow Racecourse in 1949.
But that wasn’t the only change, as the date of the race was also moved multiple times. Its original place on the racing calendar was Easter Tuesday, until in 1969 it was moved to February. Ten years later this was changed again, and since 1979 the Welsh Grand National Handicap Chase has been conducted in late December, one day after Boxing Day.
It received its Premier Handicap status in 2022.
Currently, there are 42 runners announced to compete in this year’s race, but this number may change before the day of the race. Jockeys for the race are still awaiting confirmation.
The current full list of contenders and their trainers runs as follows:
- Intense Raffles (age 7, trainer Thomas Gibney)
- Haiti Couleurs (age 8, trainer Rebecca Curtis)
- Mr Vango (age 9, trainer Sara Bradstock)
- Nassalam (age 8, trainer Gary & Josh Moore)
- Stay Away Fay (age 8, trainer Paul Nicholls)
- Monbeg Genius (age 9, trainer Jonjo & AJ O’Neill)
- Hyland (age 8, trainer Nicky Henderson)
- Marsh Wren (age 9, trainer Stuart Edmunds)
- Rock My Way (age 7, trainer Joe Tizzard)
- Tanganyika (age 7, trainer Venetia Williams)
- Makin’yourmindup (age 8, trainer Paul Nicholls)
- Iron Bridge (age 9, trainer Jonjo & AJ O’Neill)
- Collectors Item (age 8, trainer Jonjo & AJ O’Neill)
- O’Toole (age 9, trainer Sturart Crawford)
- Git Maker (age 9, trainer Jamie Snowden)
- Shomen Uchi (age 8, trainer Sam Thomas)
- Deafening Silence (age 8, trainer Dan Skelton)
- Monmiral (age 8, trainer Paul Nicholls)
- O’Connell (age 9, trainer Sue Smith)
- Uncle Bert (age 8, trainer Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies)
- Westerninthepark (age 7, trainer Olly Murphy)
- Inch House (age 8, trainer Paul Nicholls)
- Brave Kingdom (age 9, trainer Paul Nicholls)
- Dom Of Mary (age 9, trainer James Owen)
- Hung Jury (age 10, trainer Martin Keighley)
- Livin On Luco (age 7, trainer Philip Hobbs & Johnson White)
- Regal Blue (age 8, trainer Jonjo & AJ O’Neill)
- Jubilee Express (age 8, trainer Sam Thomas)
- Aworkinprogress (age 6, trainer Nick Gifford)
- Beaufort Scale (age 6, trainer Gordon Elliott)
- Minella Blueway (age 7, trainer Evan Williams)
- Saladins Son (age 7, trainer Anthony Honeyball)
- My Silver Lining (age 9, trainer Emma Lavelle)
- Pats Fancy (age 10, trainer Rebecca Curtis)
- De Legislator (age 8, trainer Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore)
- Holokea (age 6, trainer Mickey Bowen)
- Imperial Alex (age 8, trainer Tom Lacey)
- Onethreefivenotout (age 9, trainer Gordon Elliott)
- Theonewedreamof (age 6, trainer Dan Skelton)
- Karuma Grey (age 7, trainer Debra Hamer)
- Top Of The Bill (age 9, trainer Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies)
- Where It All Began (age 9, trainer Gordon Elliott)
Betting at Welsh Grand National
Betting at horse races is a long standing tradition in Britain, and the Welsh Grand National chase does its share to contribute to it. Alongside with online betting, punters will have an opportunity to place a wager on their favourite horse race betting market at the racecourse, either at a specialised betting facility or with the bookies at the tracks.
At 7bet, we offer a wide range of horse race betting markets both for domestic and international events.
Please note that odds for the Coral Welsh Grand National Chase 2025 will be available closer to the event date.
Betting at the Coral Welsh Grand National Chase 2025 includes various horse betting markets, with some of the most popular ones being:
- Win: As in any other sport, this betting market has the most straightforward objective, i.e. predict the outcome. In horse racing this means that you can place your wager on a horse that you see as the most likely to finish the race in the first place. Should your prediction be correct and your horse wins, you will be eligible for a payout proportional to the offered odds and your stake size. The simplicity of the concept behind this betting market makes it a good fit for newbie punters. At the same time, as it is based on the outcome of the race, it is equally exciting for seasoned bettors.
- Place: If you have a favourite horse you want to place your bet on but would like to do so with somewhat lower risks, this betting market may be worth a try. Placement in horse racing means that the horse comes to the finish line within the winning top, which may vary from top two to top four depending on how many runners participated in the race. What works in your favour here is that you don’t have to predict the horse’s exact placement. As long as it is placed within the winning top, your wager wins. This bet will be especially fitting for races where your favourite horse has to compete against strong rivals.
- First Two (or First Three): With this betting market you get an opportunity to place a wager on the entire winning top. The number of winners will vary from the first two to the first three, based on the number of horses running on the track. However, this doesn’t mean that you are placing a separate stake on each horse, but rather one wager on all of them at once. What you actually have to do is identify which horses will come to the finish line within the winning top and the order in which they will finish the race. The important thing here is that all horses have to finish in the exact order you specified in your bet. If any of them isn’t placed or they come to the finish line in a different order, you will lose your wager.
- Two From Three: The mechanism behind this betting market is in many ways similar to the one we described above, but it comes with a slightly lower risk. Under this bet, you are trying to predict two out of the three horses that will finish the race in the winning top. This means you need to name two horses, however you are not defining the order in which they will come to the finish line. Any placement within the winning top will work toward your bet. The only thing to be aware of is that both horses have to be placed. If either of them doesn’t finish within the winning top, your wager won’t qualify for a payout.
Always remember to gamble responsibly and treat betting as a form of entertainment and not means for financial gain.
How to Buy Tickets
Tickets for the Coral Welsh Grand National 2025 are available for purchase on the official website of the Chepstow Racecourse.
Two enclosures offered to the race goers for this event are the Grandstand & Paddock Enclosure and Premier Enclosure.
The Grandstand & Paddock Enclosure is the more affordable option. You will get access to the viewing position from where you can follow the action on the track. You will also have a view of the pre-parade ring and parade ring. Additionally, this pass grants you access to a wide selection of food and drink facilities, as well as betting outlets. You are welcome to stay for the after race live entertainment.
Price for the Grandstand & Paddock Enclosure ticket is £32 per person. You can get a discounted price of £27 per person if you are buying tickets for a group of 10 or more people.
The Premier Enclosure ticket comes with majestic views of the track and access to pre-parade ring and parade ring. You can also enter any public area open to the Grandstand ticket. On top of that, enjoy your food and drinks in premier eateries and bars or come for some horse race betting action to the finest betting facilities on the grounds. After the race, feel free to join the live entertainment.
Price for the Premier Enclosure ticket is £42 per person. If you are purchasing tickets for 10 or more visitors, you will be offered a discounted price of £37 per person.
In addition, Chepstow Racecourse offers ticket packages, each with its own extra perks. If you would like to enhance your day at the races with some fine dining, tickets to The View Restaurant are still available and cost £249 per person.
Children aged 17 and under are welcome to attend the Coral Welsh Grand National free of charge if they are accompanied by an adult with a ticket. Children’s free tickets will be available at the gate on the day of the race.
When it comes to dress code, Chepstow Racecourse tends to be rather relaxed and encourages its visitors to dress for comfort. In the Grandstand & Paddock Enclosure you are free to dress casually and can wear a fancy dress as long as it is not deemed offensive or problematic.
The Premier Enclosure leans more towards smart outfit, permitting smart jeans and tailored shorts but ruling out ripped jeans or casual shorts.
However, sports kits and team colours are prohibited on the entire territory of the racecourse to avoid unnecessary conflict and confrontations.
Travel & Transport Guide
The Coral Welsh Grand National is conducted at the Chepstow Racecourse located at the following address: Chepstow, Monmouthshire, NP16 6EH. You can reach your destination by various means of transportation from different directions.
If you are coming to the Chepstow Racecourse by rail, Chepstow Train Station is your designated destination. You will find that it is well connected with other parts of the country through direct and connection trains.
- Direct: Birmingham, Cardiff, Cheltenham Spa, Derby, Gloucester, Newport, Nottingham
- Connections at Newport: London (Paddington), Hereford, Shrewsbury, Crewe, Manchester, Swansea, all parts of Wales, Bristol, Bath, Exeter, Salisbury, Portsmouth, all parts of South and West England
- Connections at Cheltenham Spa: Yorkshire, North East of England, Scotland
Chepstow Train Station is located within a 10 minute walk from the town centre. You can also take advantage of the shuttle bus service that runs between the train station and Chepstow Racecourse through the town’s bus station. Price of a single ticket is £1.
You can use the same shuttle service if you travel to Newport Train Station. Buses run directly to Chepstow Racecourse. Price of a single ticket is £5, and you can make the return trip for free if you present the ticket to the driver.
Should you choose to drive to the racecourse, from the M4 East (Junction 21) or M4 West (Junction 23), take the M48 and exit at Junction 2 (Chepstow) to get to the A466 Chepstow to Monmouth Road. Follow the brown racecourse signs that will bring you to the location. Chepstow Racecourse is located in the vicinity of the Severn Bridge.
If you are flying in for the Coral Welsh Grand National Chase, you can choose one of the two airports closest to the racecourse. Bristol Airport is approximately 30 miles away, while Cardiff Airport is approximately 45 miles. Both are connected to the Chepstow Racecourse by rail.
Welsh Grand National Handicap Chase Past Winners
Originating in 1895, the Welsh Grand National chase has seen a parade of exceptional horses, skilled jockeys, and experienced trainers who would triumphantly reach the finish line and take the champion crown home. The horses who won the Welsh Grand National chase in the past 25 years since 2000 were the following:
| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer |
| 2000 | Jocks Cross | 9 | Brian Crowley | Venetia Williams |
| 2001 | Supreme Glory | 8 | Leighton Aspell | Pat Murphy |
| 2002 | Mini Sensation | 9 | Tony Dobbin | Jonjo O’Neill |
| 2003 | Bindaree | 9 | Carl Llewellyn | Nigel Twiston-Davies |
| 2004 | Silver Birch | 7 | Ruby Walsh | Paul Nicholls |
| 2005 | L’Aventure | 6 | Leighton Aspell | Paul Nicholls |
| 2006 | Halcon Genelardais | 6 | Wayne Hutchinson | Alan King |
| 2007 | Miko de Beauchene | 7 | Andrew Thornton | Robert Alner |
| 2008 | Notre Pere | 7 | Andrew Lynch | Jim Dreaper |
| 2009 | Dream Alliance | 8 | Tom O’Brien | Philip Hobbs |
| 2010 | Synchronised | 8 | Tony McCoy | Jonjo O’Neill |
| 2011 | Le Beau Bai | 8 | Charlie Poste | Richard Lee |
| 2012 | Monbeg Dude | 8 | Paul Carberry | Michael Scudamore |
| 2013 | Mountainous | 8 | Paul Moloney | Richard Lee |
| 2014 | Emperor’s Choice | 7 | Aidan Coleman | Venetia Williams |
| 2015 | Mountainous | 11 | Jamie Moore | Kerry Lee |
| 2016 | Native River | 6 | Richard Johnson | Colin Tizzard |
| 2017 | Raz De Maree | 13 | James Bowen | Gavin Cromwell |
| 2018 | Elegant Escape | 6 | Tom O’Brien | Colin Tizzard |
| 2019 | Potters Corner | 9 | Jack Tudor | Christian Williams |
| 2020 | Secret Reprieve | 7 | Adam Wedge | Evan Williams |
| 2021 | Iwilldoit | 8 | Stan Sheppard | Sam Thomas |
| 2022 | The Two Amigos | 10 | David Prichard | Nicky Martin |
| 2023 | Nassalam | 6 | Caoilin Quinn | Gary Moore |
| 2024 | Val Dancer | 7 | Charlie Hammond | Mel Rowley |
Bay gelding Val Dancer was 7 years old when he bagged his first win at the Welsh Grand National. Earlier in 2024 he had won three other first places and two third places, which was his most successful season since his debut in 2022.
While he has participated in three other races earlier this year, now 8 year old Val Dancer hasn’t been announced to run in this season of the Welsh Grand National.
Both for jockey Charlie Hammond and trainer Mel Rowley the 2024 victory was their first at the Welsh Grand National chase.
Welsh Grand National Handicap Chase Records
As the Welsh Grand National chase allows horses of both genders aged four years and older to participate in the competition, all contenders have a chance to enter the race and potentially win it more than once in their career. The most prolific runners, jockeys, and trainers since 1948 were as follows:
- Leading horse: Limonali (1959, 1961), Bonanza Boy (1988, 1989), Mountainous (2013, 2015); each with 2 wins
- Leading jockey: Peter Scudamore with 4 wins (Run and Skip 1985, Bonanza Boy 1988, Bonanza Boy 1989, Carvill’s Hill 1991)
- Leading trainer: Martin Pipe with 5 wins (Bonanza Boy 1988, Bonanza Boy 1989, Carvill’s Hill 1991, Run for Free 1992, Riverside Boy 1993)
Betting is only available to participants above 18 years. Please bet responsibly. BeGambleAware.org