Confirmed runners and riders for the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow

Elegant Escape heads the weights and the betting for Friday's Coral Welsh Grand National, with last year's winner among a final field of 17 confirmed for the marathon contest.

Trained by Colin Tizzard, Elegant Escape stayed on strongly to prevail off a handicap mark of 151 a year ago but his task is even greater this time around, with a rating of 160 and top weight to carry. However, he is officially 4lb well in after a fine run to finish third in the Ladbrokes Trophy.

Robbie Power will ride the seven-year-old for the first time on Friday, meaning regular rider Tom O'Brien continues his association with second-favourite Now McGinty, who has finished first, second and third on his three previous runs at Chepstow and was only narrowly touched off by Santini on his seasonal reappearance last month.

Tizzard also runs West Approach in the race, who will be partnered by Tom Scudamore.

Welsh National card and betting

Champion trainer Paul Nicholls, who won the race as a rider with Playschool in 1987 before saddling Silver Birch and L'Aventure to win back-to-back runnings in 2004 and 2005, holds a strong hand in this year's race thanks to Truckers Lodge and Yala Enki.

Another leading fancy declared for the race on Thursday was Potters Corner, trained in Bridgend by Christian Williams and sure to be a popular choice among the locals. The winner of the Midlands National at Uttoxeter in March, Potters Corner will be partnered by fellow Welshman and 7lb claimer Jack Tudor.

Christian Williams hoping to avenge Welsh National second with Potters Corner

The most notable absentee on Thursday was the Philip Hobbs-trained Steely Addition.

The going at Chepstow was described as soft, heavy in places on Thursday morning, although between 5-10mm of rain is forecast before the racing on Friday. The GoingStick on the chase course is 4.3 and on the hurdle track 3.5.

The seven-race card also features the Grade 1 Coral Finale Juvenile Hurdle, with warm favourite Allmankind among a final field of nine.

Welsh Grand National field

Elegant Escape Robbie Power
Yala Enki Bryony Frost
West Approach Tom Scudamore
Now McGinty Tom O'Brien
Potters Corner Jack Tudor (7)
The Two Amigos Matt Griffiths
Truckers Lodge Lorcan Williams (3)
Pobbles Bay Conor Ring (3)
Pop Rockstar Richie McLernon
Arthur's Gift Jamie Bargary
Prime Venture Adam Wedge
Virginia Chick Isabel Williams
Field Exhibition Danny McMenamin (5)
Captain Chaos Harry Skelton
Space Cadet Mark Enright
Rathlin Rose Mr Fergus Gillard (7)
Looks Like Power Richard Patrick (3)

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