Chepstow confident Welsh National will take place despite heavy rainfall

Chepstow officials are confident Sunday's Coral Welsh Grand National meeting will go ahead as planned despite heavy rain this week.

The track's flagship fixture will take place behind closed doors because of the coronavirus restrictions in Wales, but the threat posed by the elements might also compromise it.

Conditions at Chepstow were described as heavy on Wednesday after 30mm of rain on Monday and 5mm on Tuesday.

Clerk of the course Libby O'Flaherty said: "The forecast was for 30mm of rain in the seven days up to the race and then on Monday we had 30mm.

"We've just had a downpour and more is forecast today, but then we've got two dry days and then rain again on Saturday, but I'm happy with the way everything is going."

The Welsh National – run this year in memory of Colin Tizzard's daughter Kim Gingell, who died of cancer in May – is regarded as one of the most gruelling contests in the British calendar.

"It's heavy Chepstow ground," O'Flaherty added. "It'll be wet ground and I'll keep updating everyone every day with what the forecasts are and what it actually does.

"I walked it this morning and it was fine, while we've fresh ground and the two dry, cold days are going to help. It's not like it's going to rain every day this week."

Coral make Secret Reprieve their 7-2 favourite for the Grade 3 event, which is worth £150,000.

Fontwell: could also have ground problemsCredit: Edward Whitaker

Kempton's clerk of the course Barney Clifford on Wednesday removed the 'good in places' from the going description for the two-day King George VI Chase meeting and is now calling it good to soft with more rain expected in the coming days.

He said: "We had 2mm of rain overnight and another 2mm in the morning while I was at the track. You would probably still find the odd bit of good ground if you walked the course, but it would ride good to soft and we are forecast more rain and a gradual easing of conditions. If we got a heavy shower we might get another 10mm or 15mm, but it's very hit and miss.

"I'll look again on Thursday and on Christmas morning, when we are forecast a frost. There's then just the risk of an odd shower on Boxing Day and the 27th."

Fontwell is facing some weather problems with an inspection called for Monday's meeting at 7.30am on Saturday. The track is currently unraceable with standing water in some areas after 88mm of rain in the last nine days. More rain is forecast over the weekend.

Leicester's fixture the same afternoon, which will form part of ITV4's coverage, has already been reprogrammed to an all-chase card with the hurdle track waterlogged and having zero chance of recovering.

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