3m6½f (3m6f136y) Coral Welsh Grand National Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo+)
This is a classier looking race than normal and the ground is for once not going to be a complete bog which may hinder the chances of a few such as Mr Vango and Git Maker that have been target-trained for this race and reduce some of burden of carrying heavyweights.
Jubilee Express was extremely unlucky not to win last year, has won the trial and is well-in here. But last year didn’t have the strength in depth of this year’s race and he may be vulnerable to a few others on this quicker ground at odds that are short enough.
Form horses are generally the way to go here and two coming into this off the back of career bests are ROCK MY WAY and O’CONNELL. The latter is 11lbs off with Irish Grand National winner Haiti Colouers who shouldn’t ruled out as one of the class acts in the field, but he has to shrug off a poor display at Haydock and may be best watched here. Rock My Way is coming into this in the form of his life with a scintillating performance at Ascot. He is up 9lbs for that win, but he posted an RPR well in the 150’s so could still be easily well-handicapped and has already proven he can handle marathon trips having finished fifth in a Scottish National and second in a National Hunt Chase.
Joe Tizzard has targeted this race all season and these connections tasted success with Elegant Escape a few years back so looks a perfect seven-year-old candidate peaking at the right time. Our other selection O’Connell possesses a steadily progressive chasing profile with a PB last time out in the London National Handicap chase.
O’Connell stays all day and is a 1lb well-in for that performance even under a penalty. He is one that shouldn’t be inconvenienced by the ground and is lightly-raced for his age of nine. His jumping can sometimes be a little sticky, but has been building up to this nicely and although he is yet to win going left-handed, he did finish second in the Eider chase at Newcastle so should be fine here.
1pt win Rock My Way @6/1, 1pt win O’Connell @7/1, 14:50 Chepstow, Saturday
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