Hot on the heels of the Boxing Day bonanza at Kempton, the top-class racing action continues on 27 December. Chepstow sets the stage on Saturday afternoon, as the Monmouthshire track plays host to the biggest and best event of the Welsh racing year.
3m6½f is the trip for this Welsh Grand National, with £170,000 in prize money up for grabs. The weather is unusually fair for this time of year, but stamina remains the number one prerequisite for success in this traditional festive highlight.
With three of the past six editions falling to a Welsh trainer, the hosts don’t like to give up this prize without a fight. Looking ahead to the 2025 edition, two runners, in particular, look set to make a bold bid to keep the trophy on home soil.
Sam Thomas Wouldn’t Swap Market Leader
Having claimed the 2021 edition with Iwilldoit, Glamorgan handler Sam Thomas came close to doubling his tally with Jubilee Express in 2024. Sent off as the 6/1 joint favourite, the mount of Dylan Johnston ran a cracker but couldn’t quite reel in Mel Rowley’s Val Dancer.
Twelve months on, Jubilee Express returns for a second shot at the prize. Having climbed to a mark of 138, disappointing outings at Haydock and Cheltenham see him get in here off 126 – the same mark as when second in 2024. He warmed up for his big day with a comfortable win in the official trial in December and currently heads the market at a general 5/1.
Not for passing!
Jubilee Express leads his rivals all the way in the Welsh Grand National Trial, gamely repelling Collectors Item in the closing stages for the in-form @SammyTRacing team…@Chepstow_Racing | @williams_lorcan pic.twitter.com/Sw7uayQ4mY
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) December 6, 2025
While acknowledging that the lack of rain may make the ground slightly quicker than ideal, Thomas sounded optimistic about his charge’s chances, stating:
“It’s going to be a big test, but he won his trial on similar conditions here at the start of the month. He’ll be fine on it, and we certainly wouldn’t swap our lad for anyone.”
Couleurs to Add to National Collection
Pembrokeshire’s Rebecca Curtis has five wins at the Cheltenham Festival but has yet to land her country’s most famous race. Bidding to put that right in 2025 is the trainer’s most recent Cheltenham Festival scorer, Haiti Couleurs.
An impressive winner of the 2025 National Hunt Challenge Cup, the eight-year-old showed that to be no fluke when powering to a 3¼l success in the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse. On the back of that effort, some were predicting a Gold Cup campaign for this rapid improver. That remained the case following his comeback win over hurdles at Newbury, but he produced a strange performance when pulled up in the Grade 1 Betfair Chase last time out.
The suspicion that all was not well at Haydock was confirmed by Curtis, with the trainer informing fans:
“After Haydock, we found he had a very sore sacroiliac joint over the top of his back, and he was in a lot of pain. That explains the poor run and why he didn’t jump very well.”
He’s towards the top of the weights, but deserves to be on form, and has solid claims if back to his best.
Easy to Make Each Way Case for Snowden Runner
With Mr Vango’s participation heavily dependent on soft conditions, Jamie Snowden’s Git Maker may lead the British charge. Having hit the frame in eight of 10 starts over fences, the son of Saddler Maker is a consistent sort with excellent form in staying events. Third in the 2024 Scottish Grand National, he filled the same position in the 2025 Grand National Trial at Haydock. The pick of his efforts saw him find only future Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Inothewayurthinkin too good in the 2024 Kim Muir Challenge Cup. That run came off his current mark of 133, suggesting he has every chance of being involved if stepping up on his recent comeback run over hurdles.
Raffles to Land Prize for Ireland?
The recent Irish dominance of the National Hunt scene has not extended to the Welsh Grand National. The most recent winner to hail from the Emerald Isle was the Jim Dreaper-trained Notre Pere in 2008.
Gordon Elliott and Thomas Gibney are the trainers bidding to end the Irish losing streak in 2025. With three entries, Elliott boasts strength in numbers, but Where It All Began, Beaufort Scale, and Onethreefivenotout are among the rank outsiders.
If the Irish are to come home in front, the market suggests that Gibney’s Intense Raffles is the most likely to prevail. Top weight of 12st makes life tough, but the Simon Munir & Isaac Souede-owned runner has form in this type of race, having claimed the 2024 Irish Grand National. His narrow second to Aintree champ Nick Rockett in the Bobbyjo Chase also reads well, but he is another who may need the heavens to open to be seen to best effect.
Will the hosts make it four wins in seven years, or can the English or Irish raiders spoil the party? Tune in at 2:50pm on Saturday, 27 December to find out.