Welsh Grand National 2025: Chepstow Hosts Wales’ Premier Steeplechase Today

Introduction: A Festive Racing Spectacle

The Welsh Grand National takes place on Saturday, 27 December 2025, marking one of the most anticipated events in the British racing calendar. The Coral Welsh Grand National 2025 at Chepstow remains one of the most demanding staying chases of the season, with 19 runners set to slog it out over 3m6½f. This post-Christmas spectacular represents not just a sporting contest but a cultural celebration that brings together racing enthusiasts from across Wales and England.

The Race Details and Favourites

Jubilee Express heads the betting as the 2025 Welsh Grand National favourite, with trainer Sam Thomas hoping his runner can handle Chepstow’s tough winter test. The going is Good to soft, with the first race at 12 noon. The National is off at 2:50. This year’s race carries £170,000 in guaranteed prize money, with almost £97,000 to the winner, making it one of the richest prizes in National Hunt racing.

Among the field, Haiti Couleurs will bid to keep the race in the home nation and add another National to his CV, having won the Irish equivalent last season. Meanwhile, last year’s runner-up Jubilee Express bids to avenge that defeat to Val Dancer.

The Challenge Ahead

A big field, traditionally testing ground, and a searching trip mean this is rarely won by anything other than a thorough stayer with a bit of grit about them. Chepstow’s Welsh National track is a relentless stamina test rather than a speed contest, and recent runnings have often been decided from some way out as the field thins dramatically turning for home.

Conclusion: Racing Excellence on Display

The Welsh Grand National continues to showcase the finest in steeplechase racing, testing both horse and rider to their absolute limits. For racegoers attending Chepstow today, the atmosphere promises to be electric, combining lingering Christmas cheer with world-class sporting drama. As the horses line up for this gruelling test of stamina and courage, one thing remains certain: whoever crosses the finish line first will have earned their place in Welsh racing history.