Coral Welsh Grand National

On the edge of the Wye Valley, tucked into the hills of South Wales, there is a race that has come to define winter in the National Hunt season. It is muddy, it is unforgiving, and it is absolutely brilliant.

The first running of the Coral Welsh Grand National took place in 1895 at Ely Racecourse in Cardiff. It would take over 50 years and a change of scenery before it truly found its home at Chepstow, but once it arrived, it stayed. It is now hard to imagine late December without it.

As the Christmas leftovers fade and the New Year starts to loom, the Coral Welsh Grand National throws you straight into one of the toughest staying tests in the National Hunt calendar. Three miles, six furlongs, and absolutely no hiding place.

It is the sort of race that breaks hearts just as easily as it makes legends. And there have been plenty of those over the years.

In recent times, Native River used this race as his launching pad in 2016 before going on to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2018. Synchronised did the same in 2011, toughing it out at Chepstow before conquering Prestbury Park. And then there was Dream Alliance, the ultimate underdog story. Bred on an allotment in South Wales and owned by a local syndicate, he stormed to victory in 2009 and went on to inspire the film Dream Horse starring Homeland and Billions actor Damian Lewis.

This race is full of stories, heart and drama. The crowd at Chepstow knows it too. They wrap up warm, head out into the cold, and make the trip when others opt for the comfort of home. Those who are in attendance are the proper racing fans, undeniably.

Every year, the race draws in some of the toughest and most battle-hardened stayers in training. It is a prize steeped in history, and it is certainly not handed out lightly. It has to be earned, and those who manage it take their place in the history books, deservedly so.

In 2024, Val Dancer emerged from the mist under a power-packed ride from Charlie Hammond to give Mel Rowley another day to remember. This December, a new name will be added to the roll of honour. Some will arrive dreaming, some just hoping to get round, but one is guaranteed to leave a hero.

The Coral Welsh Grand National is not easy, and that is exactly why we love it.