The Welsh Grand National is, like its Aintree counterpart and namesakes from Scotland and Ireland, a gruelling handicap chase. Over the course of the three miles, six furlongs and 130 yards, there are 23 fences to be jumped. This test is made all the tougher because, unlike the other Grand Nationals which are typically run on decent ground in spring, the Welsh National is held on 27th December and is almost always a real slog.
The scheduling of this race, and host course, has changed several times over the years but the post-Christmas timing and use of Chepstow seem here to stay for the foreseeable future. This contest was first held in 1895 and is open to horses aged four and upwards, though it tends to be won by those aged around eight. That said, since 2015 we have seen winners aged 11, 13 and 10, and also two six year olds. Whoever is first past the post will take home around £90,000 and join the likes of Corbiere, Earth Summit and Native River in the annuls of this great contest.
2025 - Haiti Couleurs
Haiti Couleurs made all the running to land the 2025 race in highly impressive fashion at Chepstow. The second favourite was ridden by local jockey Sean Bowen, who bounced back after being narrowly denied in the King George VI Chase a day earlier. Trained by Rebecca Curtis, Haiti Couleurs stayed on strongly to beat O'Connell by three lengths, all while carrying a weight of 11st 13lbs. This made the 2025 Irish National champion the heaviest winner in Welsh Grand National history.
- 1st – Haiti Couleurs 5/1, Jockey: Sean Bowen, Trainer: Rebecca Curtis
- 2nd – O’Connell 9/1, Jockey: Danny McMenamin, Trainer: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith
- 3rd – Deafening Silence 28/1, Jockey: Tristan Durrell, Trainer: Dan Skelton
- 4th – Livin On Luco 14/1, Jockey: Callum Pritchard, Trainer: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White
2024 - Val Dancer
Heavy fog made the 2024 renewal difficult to follow, with large sections of the race disappearing from view for spectators and viewers. Val Dancer travelled close to the pace before moving alongside 2021 winner Iwilldoit approaching the final stages. As Iwilldoit tailed off, a fresh challenger emerged, seemingly from nowhere, in the form of Jubilee Express. The Sam Thomas horse was closing with every stride, but just ran out of turf as Val Dancer held on by a neck. The victory was a first in the race for trainer Mel Rowley and jockey Charlie Hammond.
- 1st - Val Dancer 8/1, Jockey: Charlie Hammond, Trainer: Mel Rowley
- 2nd - Jubilee Express 6/1J, Jockey: Dylan Johnston, Trainer: Noel Sam Thomas
- 3rd - Iwilldoit 10/1, Jockey: Callum Pritchard, Trainer: Sam Thomas
- 4th - Monbeg Genius 10/1, Jockey: Nick Scholfield, Trainer: Jonjo & A J O'Neill
2023 - Nassalam
Nassalam turned the race into a bona fide procession, powering a massive 34 lengths clear after taking control in the home straight. The joint-favourite had travelled just behind the leaders for much of the marathon before moving alongside Amateur on the second circuit, who later pulled up. He opened a 12-length advantage approaching the final fences and extended it further despite a slight mistake at the last. Only five horses completed the race, meaning the final finisher, Complete Unknown, in fifth place, scooped over £4,000 in prize money despite being the crazy total of 84 lengths off the pace.
- 1st - Nassalam 9/2J, Jockey: Caoilin Quinn, Trainer: Gary Moore
- 2nd - Iron Bridge 8/1, Jockey: Jonjo O'Neill Jr, Trainer: Jonjo O'Neill
- 3rd - Iwilldoit 15/2, Jockey: Dylan Johnston, Trainer: Sam Thomas
- 4th - Not Sure 28/1, Jockey: Richard Patrick, Trainer: Kerry Lee
2022 - The Two Amigos
The Two Amigos finally got his Welsh Grand National victory at the third attempt after finishing fifth in 2019 and second the previous year. David Prichard claimed the biggest win of his career aboard the 10-year-old, who was carrying a 5lb claim from the conditional jockey. The Big Breakaway and The Big Dog chased him home in testing conditions, but The Two Amigos held on to win by just over a length. Freddie Gingell, son of former jockey Kim Gingell, finished fourth aboard Truckers Lodge in a race run in memory of his father.
- 1st - The Two Amigos 16/1, Jockey: David Pritchard, Trainer: Nicky Martin
- 2nd - The Big Breakaway 12/1, Jockey: Brendan Powell, Trainer: Joe Tizzard
- 3rd - The Big Dog 11/2, Jockey: Aidan Coleman, Trainer: Peter Fahey
- 4th - Truckers Lodge 12/1, Jockey: Freddie Gingell, Trainer: Paul Nicholls
2021 - Iwilldoit
To the pleasure of the home fans, the Welsh National remained in Welsh hands for a third consecutive year with a convincing victory for Iwilldoit. The 13/2 chance had already won the Welsh National Trial at Chepstow and travelled strongly through a 20-runner field despite a badly hampered start. After taking the lead with half a circuit remaining, he pulled away from Highland Hunter and went on to win comfortably. Only five horses completed the marathon, as many were pulled up, including three former champions in Native River, Elegant Escape and Potters Corner. Meanwhile, another previous winner, Secret Reprieve, was the last to finish.
- 1st - Iwilldoit 13/2, Jockey: Stan Sheppard, Trainer: Sam Thomas
- 2nd - Highland Hunter 11/1, Jockey: Harry Cobden, Trainer: Paul Nicholls
- 3rd - Truckers Lodge 28/1, Jockey: Lorcan Williams, Trainer: Paul Nicholls
- 4th - Achille 16/1, Jockey: Hugh Nugent, Trainer: Venetia Williams
2020 - Secret Reprieve
Chepstow witnessed a long-awaited home victory for trainer Evan Williams in a race that was postponed due to the weather. Secret Reprieve travelled strongly in the stamina-sapping conditions before Adam Wedge moved him into the lead between the final two fences. He held on to beat The Two Amigos by three lengths, with Yala Enki third for the third consecutive renewal of this gruelling contest. Wedge had earlier suffered two falls at the meeting but showed no fear as he produced an excellent ride. A snapped girth three from home threatened to spoil his afternoon, but the flapping equipment did not prove costly.
- 1st - Secret Reprieve 5/2F, Jockey: Adam Wedge, Trainer: Evan Williams
- 2nd - The Two Amigos 9/1, Jockey: Matt Griffiths, Trainer: Nicky Martin
- 3rd - Yala Enki 12/1, Jockey: Bryony Frost, Trainer: Paul Nicholls
- 4th - Captain Drake 28/1, Jockey: Bryan Carver, Trainer: Harry Fry
2019 - Potters Corner
Potters Corner ended a 54-year wait for a Welsh-trained winner of the Welsh Grand National when holding off Truckers Lodge at Chepstow. The 8-1 shot, trained by Christian Williams, was ridden by 17-year-old Jack Tudor, who had only turned professional four months earlier. Potters Corner moved into the lead three fences from home as a breakaway group of six formed. Despite pressure, the nine-year-old resisted the challenge of those around him and a strong final jump at the last put him in complete command as he claimed a brilliant victory.
- 1st - Potters Corner 18/1, Jockey: Jack Tudor, Trainer: Christian Williams
- 2nd - Truckers Lodge 10/1, Jockey: Lorcan Williams, Trainer: Paul Nicholls
- 3rd - Yala Enki 8/1, Jockey: Bryony Frost, Trainer: Paul Nicholls
- 4th - Prime Venture 11/1, Jockey: Adam Wedge, Trainer: Evan Williams
2018 - Elegant Escape
Elegant Escape showed his bottomless stamina to prevail in a close finish at Chepstow and give Colin Tizzard his second Welsh Grand National victory in just three years. The 3-1 favourite was held just behind the leaders before Tom O'Brien made his move four fences from home. He hit the front after the second-last and had to repel a determined challenge from Ramses De Teillee. David Noonan got all he could out of the French-bred horse, but it was never quite enough to draw level with Elegant Escape, who was showing no signs of tiring and delivered a superb win.
- 1st - Elegant Escape 3/1F, Jockey: Tom O'Brien, Trainer: Colin Tizzard
- 2nd - Ramses De Teillee 10/1, Jockey: David Noonan, Trainer: David Pipe
- 3rd - Yala Enki 12/1, Jockey: Charlie Deutsch, Trainer: Venetia Williams
- 4th - Rons Dream 16/1, Jockey: Sean Bowen, Trainer: Peter Bowen
2017 - Raz De Maree
A remarkable age combination produced one of the race's most unusual victories as 13-year-old Raz De Maree beat fellow veteran Alfie Spinner by six lengths. Irish trainer Gavin Cromwell became only the second Irish-based trainer since the Second World War to win the race, while 16-year-old James Bowen became the youngest jockey to win it aboard its oldest winner. Raz De Maree had finished second in the previous year's renewal before going one better here as conditions worked in his favour. Heavy ground made the race particularly testing, with four fences omitted on the course because of the conditions.
- 1st - Raz De Maree 16/1, Jockey: James Bowen, Trainer: Gavin Cromwell
- 2nd - Alfie Spinner 33/1, Jockey: Richard Patrick, Trainer: Kerry Lee
- 3rd - Final Nudge 12/1, Jockey: Aidan Coleman, Trainer: David Dennis
- 4th - Vintage Clouds 7/1F, Jockey: Danny Cook, Trainer: Sue Smith
2016 - Native River
Native River carried top weight of 11st 12lb to a memorable victory in the 2016 race. The six-year-old had already won the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury and was sent off a clear favourite despite his weight. Richard Johnson took the lead with a full circuit left, and Native River's jumping kept him in control before a huge leap four out helped him pull clear. He beat Raz De Maree by almost two lengths, becoming the first top-weight winner for 25 years and the first horse to follow a Hennessy victory with Welsh National success since 1987.
- 1st - Native River 11/4F, Jockey: Richard Johnson, Trainer: Colin Tizzard
- 2nd - Raz De Maree 33/1, Jockey: Ger Fox, Trainer: Gavin Cromwell
- 3rd - Houblon Des Obeaux 33/1, Jockey: Charlie Deutsch, Trainer: Venetia Williams
- 4th - Beg To Differ 33/1, Jockey: Killian Moore, Trainer: Jonjo O'Neill
2015 - Mountainous
- 1st - Mountainous 9/1, Jockey: Jamie Moore, Trainer: Kerry Lee
- 2nd - Firebird Flyer 25/1, Jockey: Adam Wedge, Trainer: Evan Williams
- 3rd - Shotgun Paddy 12/1, Jockey: Gavin Sheehan, Trainer: Emma Lavelle
- 3rd - Saroque 33/1, Jockey: Liam Treadwell, Trainer: Venetia Williams
2014 - Emperor's Choice
- 1st - Emperor's Choice 9/1, Jockey: Aidan Coleman, Trainer: Venetia Williams
- 2nd - Benvolio 11/1, Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies, Trainer: Paul Nicholls
- 3rd - Glenquest 33/1, Jockey: Peter Buchanan, Trainer: S R B Crawford
- 4th - Monbeg Dude 8/1J, Jockey: Tom Scudamore, Trainer: Michael Scudamore