Chepstow cheer as forecast offers optimism for Welsh Grand National meeting

Chepstow clerk of the course Libby O'Flaherty is optimistic the track's marquee meeting on Friday, which features the Grade 3 Coral Welsh Grand National, will go ahead without any weather worries.

Although the meeting – the Welsh course's biggest of the year – has been postponed due to waterlogging three times in the last seven years, O’Flaherty is quietly confident that will not be the case this year.

She said on Sunday: "We have missed a lot of the recent heavy rain that has affected some other courses, which is a bit surprising, and the track has coped really well with the jumps meetings this season.

“We are currently soft, heavy in places and I think that is roughly how we will be come Friday’s meeting, as we have a maximum of 25mm of rain in the forecast this week with it being pretty much dry on Thursday and Friday, which is very encouraging.”

Chepstow: the Welsh Grand National has been lost three times in the last seven years but Friday's race looks certain to go ahead this yearCredit: Edward Whitaker

The Coral-sponsored seven-race card also includes the Grade 1 Finale Juvenile Hurdle and Flaherty added: “They will be racing on comparatively fresh ground on both bends and many parts of the course will not have been raced on since the October meeting.

“It’s our big day of the year by some way with all the prize-money on offer and we're all looking forward to Friday.

"If the weather forecast is correct I do not foresee any problems as I'm happy with the ground conditions all round the course as things stand.”

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