2026 race details

The 2026 Welsh Grand National is scheduled for Sunday 27 December 2026 at Chepstow.

Detail	Value
Race date	Sunday 27 December 2026
Off time	TBA
Going	TBA
Field size
Distance	3m 6f 110y
Obstacles	22 fences
Prize fund	~£150,000

Trials and build-up

The road to the Welsh National runs through two key autumn trials:

• Becher Chase (Aintree, early December) — Grade 3 over 3m 2f on the Grand National fences. Many Welsh National candidates use this as a pipe-opener.
• Coral Gold Cup (Newbury, late November) — the staying handicap-chase curtain-raiser. Horses who handled Newbury's soft ground often translate to Chepstow in December.

Five-day entries for the Welsh National close around 22 December. Final declarations (48-hour) are published two days before the race. This page reflects the confirmed declared runners once they're posted — check back on race morning for the final field.

Ante-post markets

The race is a genuine heritage handicap — 18+ runners is typical and ante-post prices range wide. Soft and heavy ground favour past winners: backing a proven mudlark at 12/1–20/1 has been a historically profitable approach. Each-way terms improve for big-field handicaps, so confirm at the exchange before committing stakes.

History and notable winners

The Welsh Grand National was first run in 1895 at Ely Racecourse in Cardiff — a response to the Aintree Grand National's popularity and a way of giving Welsh racing its own showpiece chase. When Ely closed in 1939, the race transferred to Chepstow in 1949 and has been run there every year since (bar weather-related cancellations and reschedulings).

It moved to its current late-December slot in 1979, swapping the traditional Easter date for the Christmas programme — a move that transformed the race's profile and turned it into a genuine pre-Cheltenham indicator.

The legends

Corbiere (1982 winner) went on to land the Aintree Grand National the following April, establishing Chepstow's place on the Grand National trial map. His jockey Ben de Haan remains one of the most decorated riders in the race's modern era.

Burrough Hill Lad (1983) — trained by Jenny Pitman — was another Welsh National winner who built a Cheltenham Gold Cup (1984) off Chepstow. His win is often cited as the template for how a classy staying handicapper can transition to Grade 1 level.

Synchronised (2010) — trained by Jonjo O'Neill — followed the same playbook, winning the 2012 Cheltenham Gold Cup two years after his Welsh National success.

Native River (2016) won the Welsh National on his way to the 2018 Cheltenham Gold Cup with Colin Tizzard — another reminder that Chepstow is a proving ground, not a graveyard.

Potters Corner (2019) made history a second way: when racing was shut down by the pandemic in April 2020, he "won" the first ever Virtual Grand National simulcast, with proceeds going to the NHS.

What wins the Welsh National

The Chepstow track, nearly four miles in the mud, rewards a specific profile. Winners tend to:

• Stay every yard of the trip — 3m 6½f is genuinely a test of stamina; chasers who finish strong in 3m+ races are the type
• Handle soft/heavy ground — Chepstow drains poorly and December ground is almost always testing
• Jump economically — 22 fences is a lot; energy conservation matters more than flashy leaps
• Carry weight — top-weights can and do win (Synchronised carried 11-7 in 2010), but the weight-for-age calculation favours horses rated 140-155

Recent roll of honour

This section updates after each year's running — see /racing-news/ for the most recent race result article.

TV coverage and how to watch

The 2026 Welsh Grand National is live on ITV1 (free-to-air in the UK).

UK terrestrial — ITV1 / ITVX

ITV Racing's Welsh National Day coverage typically runs from approximately 12:30 on the Saturday between Christmas and New Year, carrying four races from Chepstow plus cross-course action from Kempton, Wetherby or Wincanton depending on the day's roster. The Welsh National itself is usually off around 2:45pm–3:00pm; the exact off-time for 2026 is TBA once confirmed.

ITVX carries the coverage live and on demand after the event, free to UK viewers.

Racing TV

Racing TV carries the full Chepstow card (six to seven races) with extended pre- and post-race analysis. If you want pre-race parade-ring detail, the returning-to-unsaddle walk-offs, and the post-race interviews, Racing TV is the richer feed. Subscription or day-pass required.

Sky Sports Racing

Sky Sports Racing does not hold rights to Chepstow's Welsh National card — Chepstow is on Racing TV and ITV on this weekend.

International

• Ireland: Racing TV (via UPC / Sky Ireland) or ITV if local rights apply.
• US: Racing TV's American feed and some OTB providers.
• Australia: Sky Thoroughbred Central carries selected UK winter festivals; confirm with your provider.

Replays

ITVX (free) and Racing TV (subscriber archive) keep the race available on-demand. The Racing Post and ITV Racing's own YouTube channels usually post the race video within hours of the result.

Off-time reminders

Christmas-period racing often has tight TV-schedule discipline because of the short daylight and the packed holiday card. Expect the advertised TBA to move by no more than 1–2 minutes unless a stewards' delay or weather break intervenes.

Raceday at Chepstow

Getting there

Chepstow Racecourse is at Chepstow, Monmouthshire, NP16 6BE — in south-east Wales, just over the Severn Bridge from Bristol. The nearest station is Chepstow (Great Western Railway, 20 minutes' walk from the racecourse or short taxi), with direct trains from Cardiff, Newport and Bristol.

Drivers: Junction 22 of the M4, then the M48 across the old Severn Bridge, 10 minutes to the course. Free on-course parking. Traffic across the Severn can be heavy Christmas week — allow extra time.

The enclosures

Three tickets for the Welsh National Festival:

• Premier Enclosure — best viewing, covered seating, access to parade ring and winner's enclosure. Dress code applies.
• Grandstand & Paddock — main public enclosure with good rail views and access to the paddock pre-race.
• Course Enclosure — budget option with access to the far rails.

Tickets for Welsh National Day sell out quickly — book by mid-December at the latest through chepstow-racecourse.co.uk.

On the day

• Gates open around 10:30am.
• First race is usually 12:15–12:30.
• The Welsh National is race 4 or 5 on the card, typically off around TBA.
• Parade ring is busy 30 minutes before each race — worth being there for the Welsh National to see all 18+ runners go through their pre-race routine.
• Wet-ground conditions: Chepstow in December is almost always heavy going. The turf can churn significantly through the afternoon — lead-up races give you a genuine read on how the ground is riding.

Dress code

Premier Enclosure: smart casual (collared shirt for men, no ripped jeans or sportswear). Grandstand & Paddock and Course: no dress code — warm waterproof layers are essential. Chepstow on Welsh National Day is almost guaranteed cold, wet and muddy. Wellies or walking boots are not optional.

Food and drink

Multiple food outlets on-course from traditional pie-and-a-pint to hog roasts and Welsh-themed street food. Bars across all enclosures. The centre-course bar tents can be the warmest spot on a cold day.

Betting

Tote facilities and on-course bookmakers across all enclosures. ATM cash machines on-site but expect queues — bring cash if you plan to bet at the rails. Our bookmaker comparison guide covers online alternatives if you'd rather place from the stand via your phone.