WINS, WIND AND POWER ARE KEY

Andy Newton examines stats vital to unlocking the Welsh Grand National

- Andy Newton

Hot on the heels of the King George VI Chase over the Christmas period is the Welsh Grand National, run the following day on Friday, December 27.

The race has been subject to a few abandonments and rescheduling in recent years due to the weather - so fingers crossed the Chepstow track escapes this in 2024.

It's also a race that has been backed by a long-serving sponsor over the years as Coral have remained in the hotseat since 1973 - making it the longest-running sponsored jumps race.

Staged over 3m6f at Chepstow racecourse, this is also the first of the big National races of the season, with the Irish, Scottish, Midlands and Aintree races all to follow in the first half of 2025.

Of course, just like in any National race, stamina is key in getting home and with the Welsh National, more often than not, run in testing ground, this is even more so in this festive marathon.

Therefore, no shockers to see in the trends that ALL of the last 22 winners being previous winners over at least 3m.

Twelve months ago, we saw a dominate display from the Gary Moore-trained Nassalam - loving the mud and winning by a massive 34 lengths at the line to give jockey Caoilin Quinn his biggest success to date.

The 7yo then progressed into running in the Cheltenham Gold Cup but was unfortunately pulled-up, while he also ran in the 'big one' - the Grand National at Aintree, when 18th back in April.

Earth Summit (1997/98) was the last horse to win both the Welsh/Aintree Nationals in the same season - although mentions for Silver Birch and Bindaree, who won both races too (just not in the same campaign).

So, what are the main Welsh Grand National trends to look for?

Age - In recent years, the big takeout here is that we've not really had a standout age trend with winners ranging from 6 up to 13 in the last seven years alone.