A A A The Coral Welsh National at Chepstow Racecourse

Cornish Rebel : 8 11-12 : P F Nicholls : R Walsh

Cornish Rebel has to take top weight here with Royal Auclair's defection to Sandown yesterday. Cornish Rebel has progressed into a good chaser with six wins under his belt. This means that he has won 50% of his starts. He was a smart bumper horse winning two grade one events at Chepstow and Newbury. As a hurdler he made a fine mark winning a grade 2 cantorsport.co.uk Novices' Chase (Class A) (Registered As The Worcester Novices' Chase). He has held his own now as a chaser winning a novice chase at Cheltenham, and although that was his last win (Nov 2004) however he has run well in his races and making the frame every time. Top weights do-not have a good record in this race but he is a class act and therefore deserves top weight. If the ground does not come up very soft he will have a chance.

Sir Rembrandt : 9 11-10 : R H Alner : A Thornton

Sir Rembrandt returns to Chepstow where some of his finest runs have been achieved. He won the John Hughes Rehearsal Chase in 2003 and then went on to run a great race in this race the same year coming up against the very smart national winner Bindaree, who he had beaten in the rehearsal. Later that season he went on to run in the Cheltenham Gold Cup and he only found one horse too good that day, Best Mate winning for the third time. He contested last years Gold Cup and again put up a good show coming in 3rd to Kicking King. His recent form has been very poor with three pulled up's. You can't say that this is not a worry but his connections would not run him in this hard race if they thought he could not put up a good show. He has lots of class and would be a very popular winner.

One Knight : 9 11-8 : P J Hobbs : R Johnson

This horse's last run was in the John Hughes Rehearsal Chase (Handicap) (Class A) (Listed Race) last season. In this race he was very impressive indeed. I was waiting for him to make a show in the Welsh National but unfortunately he went wrong and was not seen out again. So good was his run that day that he looked like a live contender for other big races and perhaps a Gold Cup horse but his injuries put paid to that. I do not like to see horses run first time out in this race but I have to make an exception her as he runs really well when fresh and as he is difficult to keep sound I would guess he has missed any prep race on purpose to keep him right for this race. The only thing I would say against him today however is his weight 11st 8lbs is a high weight in this race. He must still have a great chance and has a very good strike rate with 9 wins from 14 starts. Has won on ground from good to heavy.

Comply Or Die : 6 11-7 : M C Pipe : T J Murphy

Comply Or Die is another horse who has come through the ranks from a good hurdler, (winner of the Tripleprint Novices' Hurdle (Class A) in 2003), to a good chaser. His best run came in last seasons Royal & Sun Alliance Chase (Class A) Grade 1 at the festival where his was second to Trabolgan. This was after he has shown his merit when winning the Steel Plate And Sections Novices' Chase (Class B) at the same course earlier in the season. His very recent form is good with his last run a good 3rd in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup Chase (Handicap) (Class A). Comes from the Pipe Stable and although they have not been winning with the fluency that they would expect recently, he should be respected. Has won on ground from good/firm through to gd/sft

Crystal D´Ainay : 6 11-0 : A King : R Thornton

Not a prolific winner this horse but one who has put in some good performances in defeat. He started his career in France where he won a hurdle and a chase but since his move to this country in March 2003 he has been hurdling until his last run of last season, where in the Betfair Bowl Chase (Class A) Grade 2 at Aintree he ran with credit when third behind Grey Abby and First Gold. He has had two other chase starts both in grade 2 events and he was 4th and 3rd respectively. He looks like he will have to improve to win this race but he would not be a surprise winner. Has won on gd/sft to heavy

Shardam : 8 10-11 : N A Twiston-Davies : Antony Evans

A horse who can run in and out in his race. He was a good second in the William Hill National Hunt Handicap Chase (Class A) Grade 3 at Cheltenham in 2004 and then went to Aintree for the Grand National. Unfortunately he fell at the third fence, and came home slowly in the Betfred Gold Cup Chase (Handicap) (Class A) Grade 3 a little later in the season. He has not been seen out since that run and therefore his well being must be taken on trust. He is from the Twiston-Davies yard who have won this race before. It is difficult to assess his chance here today and others have more appeal. Has won on ground ranging from good to soft

Heros Collonges : 10 10-11 : P F Nicholls : Christian

An injury plagued horse this with only 10 runs under his belt. He had to take three years off and came back in January this year. He was successful on his second appearance but this was only when class horses such as Edredon Bleu (FR) and Impek had "off Days" He was once highly though of when brought here from France where he was a prolific winner. This horse could be anything but it is difficult to recommend his chances without a good win since his comeback. Has won on ground ranging from good to soft.

Control Man : 7 10-8v : M C Pipe : A Glassonbury(10)

A good staying chaser trained by the maestro Martin Pipe. He can make the odd jumping mistake in his races and today his is in racing with a good racing weight. A winner of the valuable 2004 European Breeders Fund Sunderland's "National Hunt" Novices' Handicap Hurdle Final (Class A) (Grade 3) and the v at Cheltenham. He does have some good form but it would be a surprise to see him win this ahead of his stable companions. A winner on ground ranging from Good through to heavy.

Mckelvey 24 : 6 10-8 : P Bowen : A Dobbin

A progressive horse this 6 year old who is right in the favoured weight bracket for this race. A winner of the totesport.com Handicap Chase (Class C) over three miles 1 at Wetherby. He would have to improve on what he has done up to now but is well thought of but his connections. He may only be a novice but he stays and is a bold jumper. At six I think this race may be a bit too early for him but if he continues to progress as he has been he would have to carry far more weight next year. Has won on going from good to heavy.

Strong Resolve : 9 10-7 : Miss Lucinda V Russell : P Buchanan(3)

A long time favourite of mine, Strong Resolve rarely runs a bad race. He was second in this race last year behind Silver Birch carrying 10st 4lbs. He gets in this year with only 3 lbs more and that stands him in good stead for this renewal. He runs mainly in the north of the country and in Scotland where Ayr is his favourite course. He was 17th in last years Grand National where he was going well until a mistake at the water from which he did not recover. He has run second in the Scottish national in addition to his second here last year. Unseated last time out in the totesport Becher Handicap Chase (Class A) (Listed Race) over the National fences. If he has got his confidence back I can see him running a big race today. Has won on ground ranging from good to soft.

L´Aventure : 6 10-4tb : P F Nicholls : P J Brennan

Another of my favourites this is a real staying chaser. She made a few mistakes in the Grand National last season but still finished the race in 15th place. In this event last year she finished 4th staying on at the end of her race. This followed a good performance earlier in the season at this course in the John Hughes Rehearsal Chase (Handicap) (Class A) (Listed Race) where she was second to the very smart One Knight. I will be surprised if she does not make the frame today and I will be delighted if she wins. Softer ground would be help. Has won on ground ranging from good to heavy.

Philson Run : 9 10-1 : Nick Williams : G Lee

Comes here on the back of a good win in the John Smith's Midlands Grand National Chase (Handicap) (Class A) at Uttoxeter last season. Two most recent runs have been less impressive when 8th here in October and a fall at Aintree in November. Looks the right sort given the Uttoxeter run but will have to improve on recent form. Has won on ground ranging from gd to gd/sft

Present Bleu : 10 10-1t : M C Pipe : T J Malone(3)

A well exposed horse this with 47 previous runs. A winner of the valuable (127,000 ukp) Gran Premio Merano Forst (Grade 1) (Chase). But has not shown that sort of form in this country. Will be very much a surprise winner. Has won on ground from gd/frm to vsoft

Indalo : 10 10-0 : Miss Venetia Williams

A reasonable chaser this who has won over 3 miles previously. Seemed to be improving at the end of last season, however the horse is well exposed and at 10 is not really likely to have the improvement needed to win this race but who knows? Has won on ground ranging from good to soft.

Granit D´Estruval : 11 10-0 : Ferdy Murphy : K J Mercer

A winner of the Powers Gold Label Irish Grand National (Grade A Handicap) in 2004 and with that in mind he obviously has a chance in this race of the bottom weight but his form has been very much hit and miss since. If he shows his best he could win this but is just as likely not to. His only start this season was when pulled up after being behind in the £1 Million totetentofollow Cumberland Handicap Chase (Class C) at Carlisle. Has won on ground ranging from Yielding to heavy

Native Emperor : 9 10-0 : Jonjo O´Neill : B Harding

Another well exposed horse from the Jojo.O'Neil yard. This horse has shown some good form in the past but his luck has waned since his win in the 134th Year of National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup (Amateur Riders' Novices' Chase) (Class B) at the festival in 2004. He unseated his rider after making mistakes in last seasons Grand National. Has won on going ranging from Good to Heavy

World Wide Web : 9 10-0 : Jonjo O´Neill : R McGrath

A good horse who seems to never have fulfilled his potential. I remember seeing this horse in a hurdle at this course back in February 2003 where he caught the eye. He runs in both hurdles and chases and the handicapper seems to have his measure. If he shows his true form he could run well here from 2lbs out of the handicap but will have to improve on his recent form (Has not won since December 2003). He looks to short a price here but if there is a move in the betting market this should be seem as very significant.

Wain Mountain : 9 10-0 : J A B Old : J M Maguire

A big horse who looks as if long distance staying chases is his forte. He likes this course and runs well here. He has not shown enough form to win this race yet but may still have improvement to come and if the race is run to suit may well run into a place.

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