'The Welsh have bounced back' - biggest National crowd since 2016 at Chepstow

The biggest crowd for a Welsh Grand National since 2016 has buoyed officials at Chepstow who believe racing's standing with government now matches rugby and football thanks to relations built during the pandemic.

Racegoers returned to the fixture for the first time since 2019 after no crowds were permitted at the meeting two seasons ago, before last year late Covid-19 restrictions resulted in the public being locked out of Chepstow's most popular event for the second year running.

But a bank holiday crowd just shy of 10,500 was present on Tuesday to see The Two Amigos triumph, a figure that bettered the 2018 and 2019 totals from the corresponding days.

Phil Bell, the track's executive director, said on Wednesday: "The crowd was very good and hospitality was the strong point. We had 1,100 in there, which is the best we've had at the Welsh National.

"The Welsh have bounced back after two years without crowds. We lost the meeting in 2017 because of the weather so it's had a slightly chequered recent history, but I didn't lose confidence that would affect numbers.

"It's a very strong handicap, at a great time of year, and people have responded. It's heartening the day is still high on people's agendas in this part of the world.

"If you looked at the day you wouldn't have thought there was a cost-of-living crisis. But I've long thought people will find the money for the bigger events, be it Wimbledon or a Grand Prix; people like big events and the Welsh National is ours, and we're grateful for people's support."

The crowds were back in force at ChepstowCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Chepstow is part of the Arena Racing Company and Bell, mindful how some of the lesser midweek meetings might fare against the economic backdrop, hopes the organisation's advance ticket packages for 2023 will help during a forthcoming period he says will be challenging.

He also expressed optimism for the future of racing in the region. He said: "There are two things with our relationship with the Welsh government following Covid. One is the financial support, which was significant, but on a wider level we have a much better relationship with them than we did before the pandemic.

"They were helpful with grants and covered the losses from last year's Welsh National meeting, but it was more than that and, during Covid, we joined in calls with football and rugby about rules and restrictions, which helped our position.

"I'm not saying we weren't treated seriously before Covid, but we're now viewed by the Welsh government as being as important as rugby and football.

"We had Dawn Bowden, a deputy minister for arts and sport, come to Chepstow this year – would that have happened five years ago? I'm not sure. The BHA's Jack Barton has helped create a cross-party group in the Senedd, so we've now some presence in parliament and racing is far more prominent on the political agenda in Wales, which can only be good."

Chepstow staged eight races on Tuesday, but Bell thinks that will revert to seven next year, although no major tweaks are envisaged for the course's flagship afternoon.

He said: "It's a shame the rain came and took the edge off it for the customers, but what can you do about that? We had more wet weather cover this year than before, so that's something to look into for next year and the racing was good. I was pleased with the Finale, bearing in mind it had lost its Grade 1 status. We had a decent winner in Comfort Zone, whose form is there with the Triumph Hurdle favourite [Lossiemouth]."

Read more . . .

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