Welsh Grand National 2022 Runners Guide – Every Horse Running in Chepstow Feature

In front of a capacity crowd for the first time in three years, the Welsh Grand National 2022 runners will be roared on by punters at Chepstow today. This Premier Handicap over a gruelling and extended three-and-three-quarter miles is one of the big betting highlights of the festive period. 

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RELATED: Chepstow races today – Get the lowdown on the South Wales venue in our guide to the track.

Welsh Grand National 2022 Runners Guide

With rain forecast to hit South Wales ahead of the race, it’ll be traditional jumps weather for Wales’s most important equine event. Abundant stamina is obviously key to the hopes of the horses taking part in this handicap chase. It is always an acid test for those competing and there are no hiding places.

This is our complete guide to all the Welsh Grand National 2022 runners with 19 declared to take part. Read our experts’ detailed analysis of all the contenders, whatever their odds: Note odds are subject to change (correct 09:37am 27th Dec)

1. The Big Dog

Irish raider The Big Dog is 5lb well-in on his revised rating in the Emerald Isle but, because of a 4lb penalty, frame the handicap. One of the Welsh Grand National 2022 runners with unfinished business in this race after pulling up 12 months ago after making a mistake. Off 6lb higher than when failing to complete, the topweight might actually be well-treated under Aidan Coleman after wins in the Munster National at Limerick and Troytown at Navan this autumn.

2. The Big Breakaway

Of all the Welsh Grand National 2022 runners engaged this year, success for The Big Breakway would be an emotional one. That’s because he’s trained by Joe Tizzard, the sister of Kim Gingell in whose memory the race is run. Putting sentiment to one side, The Big Breakaway hasn’t scored over fences since his chasing debut but the yard has always wanted stayers in their ranks. He was an unlucky head loser at Haydock Park races on his return off 4lb lower when stepped up beyond 3m for the first time, so has claims on that run and his breeding.

3. Fortescue

Only 2lb higher than his last winning mark, Fortescue set himself up for a tilt at Grand National glory after landing the Swinley Chase at Ascot races in February. While he didn’t get round when tackling the famous fences in the spring, he’s since completed the course with a fourth place off this rating in Aintree’s Becher Chase earlier this month. Never near to challenge over 3m 2f, the extra half-mile of this makes him one of the Welsh Grand National 2022 runners to note.

4. Quick Wave

Looking dangerously well-treated is the ante post favourite Quick Wave. This gutsy mare is all stamina based on how she cruised to victory in the 3m 5f London National at Sandown Park races earlier in the month. She runs off 149 in future assignments but gets in here with a 4lb penalty, leaving her 5lb well-in. Her trainer, Venetia Williams, knows what it takes to win the race, so Quick Wave looks the one that the geldings all have to beat.

5. Pats Fancy (Non runner)

As he’s two out of three over fences at local track Chepstow, Pats Fancy is bound to be one of the most popular Welsh Grand National 2022 runners with punters. It would’ve been nice if trainer Rebecca Curtis had showed some more encouraging stable form in the run-up to Christmas, though. Pats Fancy also has questions about his stamina after shaping like a non-stayer in the Cheltenham Festival results from the 3m 6f National Hunt Chase.

6. Truckers Lodge

A standing dish in this race after finishing second, seventh and third during the last three seasons, Truckers Lodge is another who needs rain. He may be rising 11, but the handicapper has finally relented and dropped him back to his last winning mark from Uttoxeter races in the 2020 Midlands Grand National. Add the 7lb claim of Freddie Gingell, whose late mother is remembered in the full race title, and he could be well-treated for the Ditcheat team. Truckers Lodge will need to come on for his reappearance run at Haydock mind.

7. Fantastikas

It’s been almost 20 years since Nigel Twiston-Davies last saddled the winner of this race. On all known form, it’s tough to make the case for Fantastikas. He’s only ever won over fences at Lingfield Park races and, try as connections might to drag stamina out of him, he’s not even proven at 3m, let alone this trip. Other Welsh Grand National 2022 runners have stronger claims than Fantastikas, who is 4lb higher than his official rating here.

8. The Galloping Bear

First past the post in last season’s Grand National Trial off his current rating only to be disqualified for a banned substance in his sample, The Galloping Bear is out to prove his Haydock run was no fluke. He’s well-treated on that form and some Welsh Grand National 2022 trends support him, but is another who needs a soft surface to be seen to best effect. Representing one of the smaller yards in the UK, this is a long-term target for The Galloping Bear and he should go well.

9. Time To Get Up

A once talented staying chaser that has gone off the boil of late, an in-form Time To Get Up would be one of the Welsh Grand National 2022 runners to be feared. This is the comeback trail for him, though, after disappointing efforts last season and him pulling up on his return. Jonjo O’Neill and JP McManus are always connections to be feared in these valuable handicaps, but Time To Get Up is 3lb wrong with his official rating here. Despite that, the mark he runs off in this is the same as when last victorious.

10. Ask Me Early

Lightly-raced grey Ask Me Early has good chase form at Chepstow under his belt and has never finished out of the frame in four career starts here. Harry Fry often aims one at this race and this particular Ask gelding usually comes on for his reappearance run. Although Ask Me Early has something to find from his return effort at Bangor, he’s a couple of pounds better off at the weights and should strip fitter for the outing. He has solid claims.

11. Musical Slave

Musical Slave seems to run his best races in springtime, but powerful owner JP McManus loves runners in these big races. Unlike other Welsh Grand National 2022 runners in the mix, this Getaway gelding ran consistently well last season. Musical Slave was there or thereabouts off ratings of 128 and 130. He’s 5lb higher now, yet the form stacks up well including his fine second to Hewick in the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown in April.

12. Wouldubewell

The Owners Group are an ambitious racing syndicate but need Wouldubewell to come on significantly for her return to action. A good winner in a small field at Bangor in March off 5lb lower, this mare had previously scored over 3m 2f at Fontwell. Wouldubewell may have needed the run when only sixth at Haydock over 3m 4f on her reappearance, but is lightly-raced for her age. All her successes under Rules have come with four or fewer rivals, which is a concern.

13. Cyclop

Since returning to the David Dennis stable, Cyclop has ran with some consistency. Now a veteran, his last win came over this trip at Perth off 2lb lower. While Cyclop is vulnerable to younger, less exposed types, he was far from disgraced when third in the Borders National at Kelso races off this rating the last day. With stamina not in doubt, he’ll be plugging on when others have cried enough but it’s a matter of whether he has the class to land a blow against other Welsh Grand National 2022 runners in the line-up.

14. Wayfinder

Rebecca Curtis has a track specialist lurking towards the foot of the weights in Wayfinder. Until pulling up when sent off favourite in the Welsh National Trial the last day, his course form figures read 12111. Wayfinder bled from the nose, something that will set alarm bells ringing in the heads of many punters. The best laid plans of connections have a setback to overcome, but one blip shouldn’t detract from an otherwise excellent record at this venue.

15. Regina Dracones

After a couple of disappointing efforts in her native Ireland this autumn, Regina Dracones has plenty to prove. It was too early to say what would’ve happened in the Troytown at Navan when she fell at the second fence. Regina Dracones also then didn’t appear to get home over 3m 5f in the Porterstown around the Irish Grand National course and distance at Fairyhouse. She needs to show more now, but Harry Cobden an eye-catching jockry booking.

16. Movethechains

Lingfield specialist Movethechains gets the chance to strut his stuff at Chepstow as other Welsh Grand National 2022 runners defected from the race. Gary Moore brings him to South Wales fresh and that is a concern, because his record first time out isn’t great. Movethechains also needs to prove he can act over fences at another racecourse, but looks well-weighted towards the bottom end of the handicap.

17. The Two Amigos

More than a stone lower in the weights than when runner-up to Secret Reprieve in the 2020 renewal, The Two Amigos is obviously well-treated on that effort here. Third in a Haydock veterans’ chase the last day off this rating, his official mark has dropped 2lb since. That shouldn’t matter too much, though, because of David Pritchard taking weight off with his claim. The Two Amigos could roll back the years.

18. Gats And Co (Non runner)

Three-time Chepstow winner Gats And Co represents South Wales connections and sneaks in to the line-up, His recent efforts leave a lot to be desired. Gats And Co runs from 1lb out of the handicap and that’s a negative. Other Welsh Grand National 2022 runners have much less on their plate.

19. D’Jango

Completing the Welsh Grand National 2022 runners is D’Jango but he’s more than a stone out of the weights. Despite no end of races, he’s only had a couple of wins to show for it off ratings in the low 100s. D’Jango can be completely discounted.

RELATED: Welsh Grand National: Can Freddie Gingell Win The Race Named In Honour Of His Mum?

WATCH: Iwilldoit Wins the Welsh Grand National in 2021

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