Chepstow Racecourse
Wales’s premier racecourse and the home of the Welsh Grand National, run between Christmas and New Year over 3 miles 6 furlongs. Past winners include Synchronised (2010), who went on to claim the 2012 Cheltenham Gold Cup, and Bindaree and Silver Birch — both subsequent Aintree Grand National winners.
LEFT-HANDED
EST. 1926
About Chepstow Racecourse
Wales’s premier racecourse and the home of the Welsh Grand National, run between Christmas and New Year over 3 miles 6 furlongs. Past winners include Synchronised (2010), who went on to claim the 2012 Cheltenham Gold Cup, and Bindaree and Silver Birch — both subsequent Aintree Grand National winners. Chepstow Racecourse is a dual-purpose racecourse hosting both flat and National Hunt fixtures, located at St Lawrence Road, Chepstow, Monmouthshire, NP16 6BE.
Welsh Grand National, 27 December
Dating from 1895, the Welsh Grand National is one of the great heritage staying handicap chases. Past winners include Bindaree and Silver Birch (later Aintree Grand National winners) and Synchronised, who won in 2010 and went on to claim the 2012 Cheltenham Gold Cup. The 3m 6f marathon has been sponsored by Coral since 1973.
Meetings & feature races
Chepstow Racecourse is Wales’s premier racing venue and the home of the Welsh Grand National — the great mid-winter staying handicap chase run between Christmas and New Year. The dual-purpose track also stages a strong programme of summer flat racing.
Welsh Grand National (27 December)
Dating back to 1895, the Welsh Grand National was originally run in Cardiff until the course closed in 1939, before making its home at Chepstow in 1949. It moved around the calendar until it became a permanent fixture between Christmas and New Year in 1979, and the 3m 6f marathon has been sponsored by Coral since 1973. Winners of the race have claimed other big prizes with Bindaree and Silver Birch winning the Aintree Grand National, and 2010 winner Synchronised winning the 2012 Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Welsh Grand National Key Trends
Favourites have enjoyed a renaissance recently with three of the last five coming home first, and Chepstow form appears crucial — eight of the last 12 winners have at least one previous success at the course. Experience in marathon races is also important: eight of the last 12 winners have at least one previous run over 28 furlongs or further, and five of the last 12 winners have at least one previous win over 28 furlongs or further.
Summer flat racing
Chepstow stages a busy summer flat programme from May through to September. The track operates left-handed with a long, galloping home straight that suits stayers and rewards horses ridden patiently. The course also hosts evening fixtures during the summer.
Live races at Chepstow
Upcoming races at Chepstow
Live racecards from Chepstow — pulled from our racing data feed, refreshed throughout the day.
Welsh Grand National — key trends
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Course statistics & betting angles
The 3m 6f Welsh National trip is one of the longest jumps tests of the British season. Proven stamina over 3 miles or further is essential.
The Welsh National is famously run on testing winter ground — soft to heavy is the norm. Mud-loving stayers come into their own.
Chepstow course form is unusually predictive for the Welsh National. The undulating left-handed track suits a specific type and previous course winners deserve close inspection.
Welsh and West Country handlers have strong records: Evan Williams, Peter Bowen and Christian Williams (whose Potters Corner won the 2019 Welsh National) all know the course intimately.
How to watch racing at Chepstow
Terrestrial coverage of the Welsh Grand National is available on ITV, with Sky Sports Racing providing comprehensive coverage of every race at the meeting. The race attracts a large UK television audience as part of ITV’s seasonal Christmas-and-New-Year racing programming. For race-by-race tips and value picks, the horse.bet UK Racing Predictor publishes daily picks for every Chepstow fixture.
Visiting Chepstow
Chepstow Racecourse sits in the Wye Valley in Monmouthshire, just inside the Welsh border. Chepstow railway station is a 15-minute walk from the course with services from Newport, Cardiff and Bristol Temple Meads. By road, the M48 (Junction 2) and M4 (Junction 22) are both within easy reach. The Severn Bridge crossing makes the course accessible from Bristol and the South West.
Official Chepstow Racecourse website →
Frequently asked questions
When is the Welsh Grand National?
The Welsh Grand National is traditionally run on 27 December each year, as the centrepiece of Chepstow’s Christmas meeting.
Who sponsors the Welsh Grand National?
Coral has sponsored the Welsh Grand National continuously since 1973, making it one of the longest-running sponsor-race relationships in British racing.
Has any horse won both the Welsh and Aintree Grand Nationals?
Yes — Bindaree and Silver Birch both won the Welsh National before going on to claim the Aintree Grand National.
Does Chepstow host flat racing?
Yes. Chepstow operates a dual-purpose calendar with summer flat racing from May to September and jumps fixtures from autumn through spring.
Where can I find Welsh Grand National tips?
The horse.bet UK Racing Predictor publishes Welsh National picks on race morning, with full-field probability ratings and value plays.
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