Founder & Editor · Last reviewed 2026-10-09
Welsh Grand National 2026
The Welsh Grand National at Chepstow is the marathon handicap chase of the Christmas programme: a long, hard test of stamina and jumping, usually run on deep winter ground that suits a bold, mud-loving stayer.
For 2026 the race is scheduled for Monday 28 December 2026. The off time, the going and the declared runners are confirmed in race week, and this page adds the off time and going as they are published.
At a glance
- Course: Chepstow, Monmouthshire
- Grade: Premier Handicap
- Distance: 3m 6f 118y
- Age: 4yo+
- First run: 1895
Below: the 2026 details, the recent winners with the trends behind them, how to watch, and the day out. The Chepstow course guide covers the track, and our Welsh National course guide has more of the race's history.
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2026 race details
2026 race details
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Race date | Monday 28 December 2026 |
| Off time | TBA |
| Going | TBA |
| Field size | TBA |
| Distance | 3m 6f 118y |
| Grade | Premier Handicap |
Final declarations are made two days before the race, and the off time and going above update once Chepstow publishes them.
Where the race fits
The Welsh National comes in the same Christmas week as the King George VI Chase at Kempton. Earlier in the season, the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury is the other big staying handicap chase, and our festivals and big races board lists every big race coming up, soonest first.
On race morning the AI race predictor publishes its ratings and fair prices for every British race, the Welsh National included. The box below fills in on the day with the model's top-rated runner in the Welsh National and its fair price, then shows how that runner finished. Every earlier box is listed with its result, losers included, and the track record covers every race the model prices.
Recent winners and trends
Recent winners and trends
Welsh Grand National: Recent Winners
Premier Handicap · 3m 6f 118y · 4yo+ · Chepstow · 27 December (holiday period)
| Year | Winner | Age | SP | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Haiti Couleurs | 8 | 5/1 | Sean Bowen | Rebecca Curtis |
| 2024 | Val Dancer | 7 | 8/1 | Charlie Hammond | Mel Rowley |
| 2023 | Nassalam | 6 | 9/2jf | Caoilin Quinn | Gary Moore |
| 2022 | The Two Amigos | 10 | 16/1 | David Pritchard | Nicky Martin |
| 2021 | Iwilldoit | 8 | 13/2 | Stan Sheppard | Sam Thomas |
| 2020 | Secret Reprieve | 7 | 5/2f | Adam Wedge | Evan Williams |
| 2019 | Potters Corner | 9 | 8/1 | Jack Tudor | Christian Williams |
| 2018 | Elegant Escape | 6 | 3/1f | Tom O'Brien | Colin Tizzard |
| 2017 | Raz De Maree | 13 | — | James Bowen | Gavin Cromwell |
| 2016 | Native River | 6 | 11/4f | Richard Johnson | Colin Tizzard |
Trends
- Deep winter ground and extreme stamina define it - proven mudlark stayers win (often aged 6-13).
- Welsh/West-Country yards feature strongly (Christian Williams, Evan Williams, Rebecca Curtis).
Source-verified from official records. Last checked 2026-07-01.
The trends
Trainers & jockeys
- Most successful trainer
- Martin Pipe (5)
- Most successful jockey
- Peter Scudamore (4)
50 runnings (1970–2025)
The records
The records
- A Gold Cup pointer: Native River won the Welsh National in 2016 and the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2018, both for Colin Tizzard.
- No age limit on stamina: Raz De Maree won it in 2017 at the age of 13, for Gavin Cromwell.
- Welsh and West Country yards: Christian Williams, Evan Williams and Rebecca Curtis have all trained recent winners.
The race is often hit by the weather. It has been abandoned for frost or waterlogging several times, so check the course's going updates in the days before.
How to watch and where to bet
How to watch and where to bet
The television listing and the off time are confirmed in race week, when the declarations are out. This page shows the off time above as soon as it is published.
The Welsh National is a big-field handicap, where the bookmakers' terms make a real difference:
- Each-way places. Some bookmakers pay extra places on big handicaps. Check how many places are on offer before you back anything each way; our extra places guide explains how they work.
- Best odds guaranteed. Prices move as the going becomes clear. A BOG bookmaker pays the starting price if it is bigger than the price you took. See our best BOG bookmakers.
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Raceday at Chepstow
Raceday at Chepstow
Welsh National day is the biggest day of the year at Chepstow, so book tickets ahead. Expect a cold, wet and muddy afternoon, and dress for it: waterproofs and boots rather than smart shoes.
For getting there, the enclosures and food on the day, read our Welsh National day at Chepstow guide and the day out at Chepstow guide.
Results go on this page within 24 hours of the race, and the full card's results are on our racing results page the same evening.
Frequently asked questions
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A Day Out at Chepstow Racecourse
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Read morePhotos on this page are used under Creative Commons licences. Titles, sources and licence links for each one are on our image credits page.
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