14:50 Chepstow

Saturday 27 December 2025

All12:0012:3013:0513:4014:1014:5015:25

Coral Welsh Grand National Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:50 | Winning time: 7m 52.24s

Intense Raffles²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Bryony Frost| T: T Gibney| OR: 155

33/1

Smart chaser who won the 2024 Irish Grand National. Better than ever when second in Grade 3 Bobbyjo back at Fairyhouse last winter. Better effort this season when eighth of 24 in Coral Gold Cup at Newbury last month. The step back up in trip is in his favour.

Form: 902P-38

Haiti Couleurs³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-13| J: S Bowen| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 154| C

5/1

Proved a revelation over fences last season, winning the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham prior to following up in the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse. Successful start to this season in Newbury handicap hurdle and something can't have been right when pulled in Betfair Chase at Haydock since.

Form: 1311-1P

Monbeg Genius^t,p²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 144| C

20/1

Smart staying chaser who ended a 2-year losing run at Uttoxeter in February. Far from disgraced when sixth of 19 in a major Sandown handicap on final run last term but let down by his jumping in the Becher over the National fences at Aintree on reappearance. Fourth in this last year.

Form: 241P6-P

Rock My Way^b,t³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 140

11/2

Consistent sort who chased home Haiti Couleurs in the National Hunt Chase at last season's Cheltenham Festival. Better than ever when readily bagging the Berkshire National at Ascot (29f, good to soft) 5 weeks ago. Player off 9 lb higher for a yard no stranger to success in this.

Form: 4225-01

Tanganyika²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 140

28/1

Very much on the up sent chasing last term, scoring over 3m at Market Rasen and Carlisle before signing off with an excellent second of 16 in Midlands National at Uttoxeter in March. Respectable fifth on Cheltenham reappearance but ran no sort of race behind O'Connell and Hung Jury at Sandown since.

Form: 4112-5P

Uncle Bert²¹^{(ex 4)}

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 132

7/1

Useful hurdler who resumed his chase career with a win in handicap company at Aintree (2½m, good to soft) on reappearance 3 weeks ago. Fairly treated under a 4 lb penalty but unproven beyond 3m.

Form: 23159-1

O'Connell²¹^{(ex 4)}

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: Danny McMenamin| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 132

9/1

Very much a chaser on the up last season and has picked up where he left off, winning 3½m London National at Sandown (good to soft) 3 weeks ago. His hold-up style often doesn't lend itself to this race but the yard's continued good form affords him respect under a 4 lb penalty.

Form: 1112-31

Collectors Item^b²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: K Brogan| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 135| C

11/1

Dual chase winner last season who made an encouraging return to action when 2½ lengths second to Jubilee Express in the trial for this race over 3m here (good to soft) 3 weeks ago. Same mark today. Should go well.

Form: 521P8-2

Git Maker⁴⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-6| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 133| C

9/1

Placed in Kim Muir at the Cheltenham Festival and Scottish Grand National in spring 2024. Hasn't reached the same heights since but did make quite an encouraging return to action over hurdles at Lingfield in November and yard's continued good form provides hope now back chasing.

Form: 23/030-3

Deafening Silence^p²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: Tristan Durrell| T: D Skelton| OR: 132

28/1

Goes well in the mud, including a Warwick novice chase success last season. Good reappearance second behind a handicap blot in the Rehearsal at Newcastle (3m, good to soft) 4 weeks ago and possible this low-mileage sort could have more to offer.

Form: 34215-2

Jubilee Express^p²¹^{(ex 4)}

Age: 8| Weight: 10-3| J: Kielan Woods| T: S Thomas| OR: 126| C

9/2

Runner-up in this race 12 months ago and warmed up for this year's renewal by winning the trial here (3m, good to soft) 3 weeks ago, seeing off the reopposing Collectors Item by 2½ lengths. Another bold show likely.

Form: 21/26-01

Where It All Began^b⁴¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: C O'Farrell| T: G Elliott| OR: 129

50/1

Poor recent form with multiple pull-ups, including in the Troytown on reappearance. Hard to fancy despite hailing from a top stable.

Form: 8/P0FP-P

Livin On Luco^b⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Callum Pritchard⁽³⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 128| C

14/1

Suited by an increased test of stamina and a change of tactics when making all in the 3½m Sussex National at Fontwell (good to soft) 6 weeks ago. Effectively 7 lb higher now and will need a big career best to follow up in this stronger race.

Form: 2/16P3-1

Dom Of Mary^p²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: D R Fox| T: James Owen| OR: 128

14/1

Yet another who has benefited from the switch to the James Owen yard, overhauling Zertakt (won at Cheltenham since) to make it second time lucky for the stable over 3¾m at Newcastle last month.

Form: P28P-31

Hung Jury^p²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-2| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: M Keighley| OR: 128

28/1

Novice with a progressive profile over fences, winning 4m Cheltenham hunter in May and 25f handicap at the same venue in November. Advanced his form again when ¾ lengths second of 6 to O'Connell at Sandown (29f, good to soft) 21 days ago, despite going in snatches. Thorough stayer.

Form: 6-14812

Beaufort Scale^t,p²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Paddy Hanlon⁽⁵⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 123

28/1

Good second in 25f Cheltenham handicap in October and respectable seventh in ultra-competitive Troytown and Porterstown in Ireland since. Might be vulnerable from 6 lb out of handicap. Also declared 3.00 Leopardstown Saturday.

Form: 027277

Pats Fancy^p²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-2| J: Jamie Brace⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 120| C

100/1

Bagged a pair of 3m course handicap chases in December 2021. Lightly-raced and largely out of sorts since, failing to build on Ffos Las reappearance when well-held sixth at Chepstow 3 weeks ago.

Form: 6/6PP-46

Non-Runners

Mr Vango²¹

Weight: 11-11| Age: 9

T: S Bradstock J: Jack Tudor

Nassalam⁴¹

Weight: 11-4| Age: 8

T: G & J Moore J: Caoilin Quinn

Forecasts

Jubilee Express (9/2), Haiti Couleurs (5/1), Rock My Way (11/2), Mr Vango (7/1), Uncle Bert (7/1), O'Connell (9/1), Git Maker (9/1), Collectors Item (11/1), Livin On Luco (14/1), Dom Of Mary (14/1), Monbeg Genius (20/1), Nassalam (20/1), Deafening Silence (28/1), Beaufort Scale (28/1), Hung Jury (28/1), Tanganyika (28/1), Intense Raffles (33/1), Where It All Began (50/1), Pats Fancy (100/1)

ROCK MY WAY had so much in hand at Ascot last time that even a 9 lb rise is potentially lenient. The main threat may come from Collectors Item, who is theoretically weighted to turn around recent course form with last year's runner-up Jubilee Express. O'Connell, Mr Vango and Haiti Couleurs also make the shortlist.