Welsh National Guide

The Welsh National is the first of the four national hunt ‘nationals’ run annually in the United Kingdom. The Grade 3 Welsh National steeplechase is run in December, and is one of the earliest opportunities for punters to assess the form of the top handicap chasers for the season.

The Welsh National is run over 3 miles 5½ furlongs at Chepstow racecourse in Wales. Five year old and older racehorses take on 22 fences during the course of the Welsh National, and the race is recognised as being particularly challenging due to the heavy ground conditions at Chepstow racecourse.

The first Welsh National was run in 1895 at Ely racecourse outside Cardiff. The race was run at this venue until the Second World War resulted in its closure in 1939. The Welsh National was abandoned during the war, and only resumed in 1948 when it was hosted at Caerleon racecourse. The race moved to its present location in 1949.

Welsh National Betting

The Welsh National brings the national hunt betting markets to life every year. Betting at this stage of the season tends to be somewhat speculative, with odds tending to reflect racehorses’ performances over the past season rather than their current form.

Weight is of critical importance when making selections for the Welsh National. The arduous going means that runners carrying a lot of weight rarely do well. This is supported by the fact that only one of the last ten winners of the race carried a weight of 11 stone or more.

The heavy going also demands a great deal of stamina from participants, which in turn means that older horses rarely do well at the Welsh National. Punters are best off restricting their bets to horses aged 6-9, as only three horses aged 10 or older have won the race during the past three decades.

Ladbrokes £10 Free Bet
Ladbrokes offers all new punters a £10 free bet.

• Open an account with Ladbrokes Bookmakers
• Place a bet of £10 or more
• Ladbrokes will give you a free bet of upto £10

Ladbrokes Free Welsh National Bet Ladbrokes Review

Welsh National Winners

The Welsh National draws a field of the top runners in national hunt racing, many of whom are being primed for a run at the Aintree Grand National. Several Welsh National winners have gone on to win the biggest handicap in national hunt racing, with both Silver Birch and Earth Summit achieving this feat during the past decade.

Trainer Martin Pipe holds the record for wins in the Welsh National, saddling five Welsh National winners from 1988 to 1993. Jenny Pitman also built her reputation as national hunt’s most successful female trainer at the Welsh National, with three of her horses claiming Welsh National winners titles since 1982.