A A A The Coral Welsh National at Chepstow Racecourse

The Winner

Silver Birch

Silver Birch is a young horse but today again looked the total professional. He has added The Welsh National to his Becher chase win and now the sky's the limit as far as long distance chases are concerned. He has moved to the head of the betting for The Grand National and seeing the class he oozed today it is no surprise. His jockey had him held up for a long way in the race but placed him handy at the right time giving the horse every change to show what he could do and the horse obliged. When the horse got to the front there was no way that the horse was going to let anyone pass him. At only 7 he will still have improvement to come and looks a good prospect for years to come.

Paul Nicholls

Paul Nicholls is one of the top trainers in the country. He is well respected and liked by everyone in the game. As well as his great training feats, with almost 2 million pounds in prize money last year he always has time to speak to the press and gives good information about his horse's chances. This is the second time that he has been in the winner's enclosure with regard to this race as he also won this race as a jockey on Playschool back in 1987. Paul has not yet won The Grand National it could be that this year will be his turn.

Ruby Walsh

Ruby Walsh is one of the top jockeys in the country. He is a past winner of the Aintree marathon and now adds this to his record. He is a remarkable jockey who gives his horse every chance in a race and rarely gets it wrong. He rode in his home country of Ireland mainly for his trainer father Ted however Ruby has always stood out as top class and when he can to this country it was no surprise to see him snapped up by one of the best yards.

2nd place

Strong Resolve

Strong Resolve looked to have plenty to do going into this race, because of his consistency he has been at the mercy of the handicapper and often finds one better handicapped in a race. He always runs with credit and today again put in a good performance. He was up with the leader all the way and this is not a handicap at this course as front-runners always do well. At 8 the horse still has some improvement to come and should get a big prize under his belt. He is available at 33-1 for the Grand National and that looks too big to me especially if you consider last season he was 2nd in the Scottish equivalent of this race, on that day he had to carry 11st 1lb and gave the winner 3lbs and any lost by 1 and three quarter lengths.

Miss Lucinda Russell

Miss Lucinda Russell is one of the smaller trainers in the country. Lucinda trains in Scotland in Kinross and her horse's unsurprisingly run a lot in the north so it was good to see the horse come such a long way today. Lucinda is having a great year with a 14 percent strike rate with all her runners but with a remarkable 22 percent strike rate in chases.

P.Buchanan

P.Buchanan is an apprentice jockey who with 26 wins this year is improving. He is now getting good rides with Miss Lucinda Russell and he has ridden 20 winners for he this year. He gave this horse a good run today and played the correct tactics but unfortunately just found one too good.

3rd Place

Chives

Chives is out of the top draw. He did really well today and his only mistake in the race came three from home. With 11st 4lbs on his back he has again shown his well being and his toughness. Finishing less than four lengths of the leader and giving almost a stone to both the horses in front of him. It is difficult to believe that this horse is still only 9 going on 10. Available at 33/1 for the national also looks too big to me although with his class he could find himself with too much weight although he has been slipping down the handicap because of a few runs where he had broken blood vessels. Could be one to follow this year.

Mrs Sue Smith

Mrs Sue Smith is a very well respected trainer. She is often given horses with problems to look after and often does extremely well with horses that have had jumping problems. With a strike rate over 12% with over 300 runners this year she is doing extremely well. Sue has done the trick with this horse as was shown in his good win at Haydock last time out and looks to have another horse with a live chance in staying chases

D.Elsworth

D.Elsworth is a good young jockey who has a good strike rate with plenty of runners. He is the stable jockey to Sue Smith. From 128 rides this year he has won 28. He is a jockey that looks to have a bright future ahead of him.

4th Place

L'Aventure

L'Aventure came very strong at the end of this race just as he did at the end of the John Hughes earlier this month when he failed to catch the very smart One Knight by only one and a quarter lengths. A very game mare and at 5 looks to have a bright future and who knows next year she could be the yards first string.

Paul Nicholls

Paul Nicholls. This was Paul Nicholls second string in the race.

P.J.Brennan

P.J.Brennan is a good independent jockey who gets rides from the top trainers. He has a strike rate of over 12% this year, which is very good fro a jockey who does not get the chance to ride the first strings from stables all that often. With this stable doing so well and his two rides on this horse have been good he could get the ride on the horse in The National come April, and she will surely give his a good ride in the race as she jumps and stays well. Soft ground would also suit her well.