The 2021 edition of the Coral Welsh Grand National is almost here, and 20 runners and riders are hoping to win the prestigious £150,000 race at Chepstow.
Wales' biggest horse race starts at 2.50pm on Monday, December 27, and is being staged behind closed doors. See the full race details here.
Evan Williams-trained Secret Reprieve (6/1) is bidding to defend his title in his return to action after winning last year's postponed race in January 2021, while there are three other previous winners competing in Potters Corner, Native River and Elegant Escape (all 16/1).
Llancarfan-trained Secret Reprieve is off a 6lb higher mark than his last race, but the rise in the ratings doesn't penalise him too much.
Former Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Native River being in the race means the weights are lower for the rest of the runners. He has been handed the top weight of 11st 12lb but previously won the 2016 Welsh Grand National carrying the same weight.
Sam Thomas-trained Iwilldoit (7/1) enjoyed a perfect warm-up by winning the Welsh Grand National Trial at the course by 24 lengths
Highland Hunter (11/1) represents champion trainer Paul Nicholls, who will hope the eight-year-old can add to his victory in the London National at Sandown. Nicholls also has Truckers Lodge (33/1) in the race.
The Big Dog (15/2) is one of the leading runners travelling across to Chepstow from Ireland.
Venetia Williams-trained pair Hold That Taught (15/2) and Achille (14/1) have also attracted support.
Welsh Grand National runners, riders, trainers, numbers and odds
(Odds are courtesy of Paddy Power and are correct as of 2pm on December 27).
11. Secret Reprieve, ridden by Adam Wedge, trained by Evan Williams (6/1)
16. Iwilldoit, Stan Sheppard, Sam Thomas (7/1)
14. Hold That Taught, Charlie Deutsch, Venetia Williams (15/2)
7. The Big Dog, Jonathan Burke, Peter Fahey (15/2)
13. Deise Aba, Tom O'Brien, Philip Hobbs (11/1)
6. Highland Hunter, Harry Cobden, Paul Nicholls (11/1)
5. Mighty Thunder, Derek Fox, Lucinda Russell (12/1)
20. Potters Corner, Jack Tudor, Christian Williams (16/1)
10. Achille, Hugh Nugent, Venetia Williams (14/1)
1. Native River, Brendan Powell, Colin Tizzard (16/1)
19. Hill Sixteen, Craig Nichol, Sandy Thomson (14/1)
2. Elegant Escape, Jonjo O'Neill Jr, Colin Tizzard (16/1)
12. Discordantly, Gavin Sheehan, Mrs John Harrington (20/1)
8. Ramses De Teillee, Tom Scudamore, David Pipe (22/1)
4. Truckers Lodge, Lorcan Williams, Paul Nicholls (33/1)
18. Captain Drake, Lorcan Murtagh, Harry Fry (28/1)
17. Eva's Oskar, Alan Johns, Tim Vaughan (28/1)
3. Kimberlite Candy, Richie McLernon, Tom Lacey (28/1)
9. Mac Tottie, Sean Bowen, Peter Bowen (33/1)
15. Colorado Doc, Connor Brace, David Brace (50/1)
Welsh Grand National's previous winners
Native River, his stablemate Elegant Escape, last year's winner Secret Reprieve and Christian Williams' Potters Corner are all runners in this year's race to have previously tasted glory in this marathon test.
2020 - Secret Reprieve (T: Evan Williams. J: Adam Wedge)
2019 - Potters Corner (T: Christian Williams. J: Jack Tudor)
2018 - Elegant Escape (T: Colin Tizzard. J: Tom O'Brien)
2017 - Raz De Maree (T: Gavin Cromwell. J: James Bowen)
2016 - Native River (T: Colin Tizzard. J: Richard Johnson)
