The biggest day of the year at Chepstow races is their Welsh National card on Friday, 27 December. This is one of those classic fixtures and Premier Racedays that punters cannot ignore.
South Wales takes over from Kempton as the main meeting in the UK during a hectic festive schedule between Christmas and New Year. On the supporting card are lots of other handicap hurdles and chases, plus the Grade 2 Finale Juvenile Hurdle for three-year-olds.
There’s no doubt what the big race for punters wagering on horse racing betting sites, though. We’ve dragged our experts away from their Christmas dinner for some expert analysis race by race of everything going on during this card.
Chepstow Races Preview for 27 December
12:00 – 2m 11y Class 3 Novice Hurdle
The drop back in trip might not suit ratings topper Julius Des Pictons, but CLAP OF THUNDER may be better than he showed when fourth here in October. Nigel Twiston-Davies’ four-year-old came and out landed an Ascot novice easily before a solid fifth on handicap debut around Cheltenham last time out.
Clap Of Thunder is now back in novice company under a penalty, rather than carrying a welter burden. Shade Of Winter placed in both his bumper and hurdles bow here last time out, so could come on for that first taste of this discipline for Adam Wedge and Evan Williams.
Yhprum’s Law needs a change of luck for the Skeltons after falling at Carlisle and a notable mistake around Uttoxeter last time out. Of the hurdling debutants, Tom Lacey mare Piper Park gets weight all-round and wants testing ground based on her Irish Point-to-Point success.
12:30 – 2m 11y Class 4 Handicap Hurdle (0-115)
A well-timed ride from @freddie68528641 who gets his second win of the day at Ascot! Taking the top spot on KING WILLIAM RUFUS in the @RaceTechUK Handicap Hurdle Race.@Chrisgordonrac1 #Ascot #HorseRacing pic.twitter.com/6yI79hWI02
— Ascot Racecourse (@Ascot) December 20, 2024
KING WILLIAM RUFUS won as he liked at Ascot last Friday, so now heads to Chepstow races under a 7lb penalty but still 5lb well-in on future assignments. Chris Gordon’s charge is a consistent type recording top two finishes on each of his last six starts. With son Freddie again taking the ride and 5lb off with his claim, King William Rufus can follow-up.
Melton Mossy also went close around Ludlow over further last week and is 3lb well-in, so Williams and daughter Eleanor may have a say in the finish again. Razzle Dazzle Boy finished behind Clap Of Thunder at Cheltenham before scoring around Sandown for another Welsh stable. Tim Vaughan’s horse is only 3lb higher now too.
Castelfort is a previous course and distance winner to note for Jane Williams, meanwhile. Now dropped markedly in grade and 4lb by the assessor, this is his time of year. As a four-year-old, Castelfort is still open to plenty of further improvement. Gold For Alec is also a young gun from that age bracket, but won his last start.
1:05 – 2m 3f 98y Class 2 Handicap Chase
October’s course and distance winner NOCTE VOLATUS returns to Chepstow races after a good subsequent second at Ascot. The winner, Gemirande, went on to follow-up in the December Gold Cup at Cheltenham, so that form reads well. Off an unchanged mark, Nocte Volatus can go in again for Lacey with Stan Sheppard back in the saddle.
Lowry’s Bar still has more possible progress in him over fences after just two starts in this sphere. Philip Hobbs & Johnson White’s runner is up 4lb for a narrow victory at Exeter, but is a dual course winner over hurdles. Le Milos wants further, meanwhile, and Georges Saint concedes race-fitness all round to the field.
It’s hard to fancy either the Skelton runner or Venetia Williams’ horse as a result. The others don’t make much appeal, although Fidelio Vallis placed in Listed company over course and distance three years ago. Harry Derham’s charge is 7lb lower now and has Megan Fox taking a further 7lb off with her claim.
1:40 – 2m 11y Grade 2 Finale Juvenile Hurdle
Listed Winner: Opec🥇
Opec won the @Coral Listed Fillies Juvenile Hurdle in impressive fashion at Newbury Racecourse today.
Congratulations to owners The Gredley Family and well done our team who are on fire!#jamesowenracing #newburyracecourse #dodsonandhorrell pic.twitter.com/R3AszAzEn5
— James Owen Racing (@JPOwenRacing) November 29, 2024
French raider Nietzsche Has concedes weights all-round and placed at the highest level last time out. He could be very useful, but James Owen filly OPEC down the bottom is a value alternative. She bolted up in a Listed race around Newbury last time out when completing a hat-trick.
Opec’s Wetherby win over Quantock Hills has been franked by the runner-up dead-heating in an official Triumph Hurdle Trial at Cheltenham. Hot Fuss placed behind leading British juvenile hope East India Dock before scoring around Sandown the last day, so is a notable National Hunt runner for usual Flat trainer Tom Dascombe.
Static has hit the frame on his two outings for the Olly Murphy stable, meanwhile. He also ran second to East India Dock following a narrow defeat at Wetherby. The winner should come from these four, but last time out winners Marche d’Aligre and Melon could have more to offer after successful debuts.
2:10 – 2m 7f 131y Class 2 Handicap Hurdle (0-145)
Haydock third PHANTOMOFTHEPOINTS appeals most down in grade. He arrives at Chepstow races off the back of that placed effort in a Premier Handicap on the Betfair Chase card. David Pipe’s charge is only 2lb higher and Phantomofthepoints should have more to offer in these staying races.
A mistake at the last cost Woodie Flash victory at Newbury last time out, so there’s a 5lb rise for defeat for him to overcome. Murphy’s runner has won in Wales before, however, and he’s still a threat on this more galloping track. Madaket was just behind Woodie Flash the last day and is 3lb better off with that one now, so that gives him a chance.
Major Fortune has multiple wins over this trip around Lingfield, so could bounce back from a disappointing display at Cheltenham. At bigger odds, Bill Baxter could surprise a few after a solid second around Uttoxeter last time looked a step back in the right direction.
2:50 – 3m 6f 130y Welsh Grand National (Premier Handicap Chase)
Many in with chances in the Chepstow races feature and it wouldn’t be a surprise if trainer Jonjo O’Neill went one better in the Welsh Grand National this season. He saddles ante-post favourite Monbeg Genius and last year’s runner-up Iron Bridge. Both have obvious chances, but the race could be tailor-made for the mare GALIA DES LITEAUX.
Dan Skelton saddled her to a narrow second in the Classic Chase at Warwick off this mark in January. Galia Des Liteaux might find an extra furlong-and-a-half optimum, so this test might be ideal for her. Fontaine Collonges bids to confirm Haydock form with Monbeg Genius and Venetia’s mare is worse off at the weights.
Stamina should be her forte, though, as she’s related to Grand National hero Neptune Collonges. Jubilee Express and former race winner Iwilldoit are a good hand for local trainer Sam Thomas, meanwhile. A lack of recent run for both is a concern, though. Gordon Elliott also has two in the race with Where It Al Began and Stuzzikini both in with a shout.
Val Dancer beat Iron Bridge at Carlisle this autumn, so Mel Rowley’s runner has claims in this wide-open contest. The Newest One could be worth trying at this trip for the Twiston-Davies team. No Hubs No Hoobs stays this far, so Joe Tizzard’s charge could also spring a surprise and run well.
3:25 – 2m 11y Class 4 Handicap Chase (0-120)
As DR T J ECKLEBURG beat a subsequent winner at Haydock, Evan Williams’ charge could defy a 7lb rise and go in again after two placed efforts over course and distance earlier in the year. Conor Ring keeps the ride after that success on Merseyside. Dr T J Eckleburg faces plenty of competition at Chepstow races, however.
Doyouknowwhatimean should come on for his reappearance for Team Skelton, while Royal Jewel finished in front of the selection at Newton Abbot in October. He’s been turned over since, though, but the Hobbs runner must have claims. Last time out winners King Of Tara despite a penalty and David’s Well could also follow-up.
The former, trained by O’Neill, has only run once over fences, so could definitely have more to offer as a chaser. Similar comments apply to David’s Well for the Gordons. Topweight Zambezi Fix only has the one victory in this sphere, but that came over course and distance off this mark, so he’s another to note.
