After all the high-class Boxing Day and St Stephen’s Day action, we have yet more to keep us occupied over the festive season.

The traditional big race on December 27th is the famous Welsh Grand National. A gruelling contest, this field is set to take on 23 fences across 3 miles, 6½ furlongs of Chepstow’s chase course. Generally speaking, only proper stayers win this race.

There’s a cool £150,000 in the pot for this race. That, added to the prestige that comes with winning the Welsh National, means that a number of these runners have been prepared to the minute for the task and we’ve had to bear that in mind when handicapping the field.

A truly historical race on the go since 1895, some proper types have landed the odds. Winners include Corbiere, Burrough Hill Lad, Cool Ground, Master Oats, Earth Summit, Bindaree, Silver Birch, Synchronised and Native River.

Last year The Two Amigos took the event and now looking to join them are these shortlisted six against the field: 

Main Contenders

Autonomous Cloud

Trainer Fergal O’Brien has always been popular and his numbers don’t disappoint. What has been missing, at least in the main, are the proper prestige wins in races at the Cheltenham Festival and in events such as this one but there is zero doubt that he and his team are capable.

He may have the horse to land the Welsh National here. Autonomous Cloud has the perfect profile. He’s young and improving, yet clearly stays well.

His win at Uttoxeter last time was an easy one, his second in a row, and he has not finished out of the first two over fences yet. Highly progressive, Autonomous Cloud could be well in and won’t shirk the challenge either.

Chambard 

Chambard may be creeping towards old-timer territory now, but he is also at his best just at the moment and has to be taken very seriously for the Venetia Williams team.

Indeed, this is the horse that took down the Becher Chase in spectacular fashion two and a half weeks ago by some 13 lengths.

The recovery time may be a slight issue, as could his rise in the weights regardless of future ratings, with horses of his age rarely winning two such premier handicaps in quick succession.

Complete Unknown 

Paul Nicholls’ Complete Unknown has a similar profile to that of Autonomous Cloud of Fergal O’Brien’s. Young and generally progressive, this horse must be watched but in truth there are a couple of negatives to just keep in mind.

Firstly, his stamina for this task is unproven. He was at his best when winning at Kempton over a flat 2½ miles, while he reached a similar level next time but was beaten over 3m1f at Aintree, albeit behind Gerri Colombe.

Up to 3m2f in the Coral Gold Cup last time, he was not at his best once again and so both recent form and stamina are an issue.

Nassalam 

It’s a little obvious to say that the winner of the Welsh Grand National Trial has a big chance in the Welsh Grand National, but it’s very much true this year.

Nassalam, winner of the trial earlier in the month for Gary Moore, reached a new career high around here and there’s no reason to think he can’t take another step forward on a track he clearly loves.

True, that was over three miles and his other top performances have been over even shorter, but he wasn’t stopping at the end on heavy ground and in fact a look at his profile suggests that nowadays the further he goes, the better he may be.

Super Survivor 

Jamie Snowden’s Super Survivor warmed up for this race with a nice second behind Git Maker at Lingfield and it should have put him spot-on.

That is good form we reckon, while he was also well fancied having been sent off the 2/1 favourite. That run was only his fourth over fences but while he is inexperienced over the larger obstacles, he is a definite stayer and a horse with progression almost guaranteed.

It’s difficult to work out how much a horse will improve from race to race, but we certainly don’t think this horse will be going backwards and so he must have a fine chance.

The Galloping Bear 

Ben Clarke’s runner is almost 11 now, but he’s fresh from a breathing op and may just have a new lease of life as a staying chaser.

A winner of the Grand National Trial at Haydock once over before being disqualified, we know this horse stays and has the quality to compete.

He was only 11/2 for this race twelve months ago too, but that was on the back of a decent third at Carlisle. He’s not in that form now as far as we know and he fell in this race last time.

Summary

A good betting race as always, but one in which AUTONOMOUS CLOUD stands out and is backed to score.