06:42 It is Welsh Grand National day and there is currently light drizzle following 1mm of rain yesterday and 4.5mm Sunday night.

The official going is heavy.

10:09  Good morning from Chepstow where the weather is overcast but dry, slight headwind in the home straight. There are four non-runners so far, details on the right.

10:29 It is still two hours to the opening contest and the gates are open and I actually saw a guy finish his first pint in one fell swoop - heaven knows what he will be like by the end of the afternoon?

10:31 We have a shout of commentators here this afternoon, an appropriate description after John Hunt's call of Kauto Star's win at Kempton yesterday, if you can get to hear it it is a great call, even though his voice cracked more than once. I pulled into the car park next to Richard Hoiles (course commentator) and John Hunt (BBC Radio) and we also have Jim McGrath (BBC TV) and his "spotter" John Hamner.

11:18 Tom Scudamore rides Alfie Spinner in the opener at Cepstow following James Reveley's fall at Wetherby yesterday.

The non-runner count is now six.

12:10 It will be interesting to see the official crowd figures as it certainly seems to be a lot quieter here today than in previous years.

12:10 The runners are in the parade ring for the opening contest, the Text Coral To 60006 For Mobile Betting Beginners' Chase, over three miles - a contest which will take some getting.

Just five to face the starter in a contest which will take some getting in these conditions.

Maringo Bay was getting a little on his toes and he is quite a petite horse.

12:22 Rif has been led to the start without his rider

12:42 Last time out at Towcester Rif refused to race and it looked as though he was going to pull the same stunt this afternoon.

When he eventually did decide to race he had given at least thirty lengths to his four rivals.

The market leaders Alfie Spinner and Maringo Bay set the pace and filled the first two places throughout. with Alfie Spinner holding the advantage for the majority of the race. Two out it looked as though Maringo Bay was going to mount a successful challenge but Alfie Spinner looked to have enough in hand.

It was still nip and tuck coming to the last but Alfie Spinner had sufficient in hand to edge clear, recording a 1¼ length victory.

Stay Connected and Will Scarlet were running together in third and fourth for most of the race before Stay Connected dropped out on the home turn, eventually finishing last.

Will Scarlet was seven lengths back in third with the temperamental Rif a further 38 lengths back in fourth.

Noel Fehily, rider on the runner-up said Maringo Bay will come on for the run and teh winner will never beat him again.

The jockeys describing the going as nearer soft than heavy.  

12:52 Another three mile contest, this time a hurdle as eight go to post for the Bet In Play Now at coral.co.uk Handicap Hurdle.

13:11 Well that was a finish and a half and even racings most senior judge, Nick Bostock, was unable to split the first two as they crossed the line and he called a dead heat between Palace Jester and Rev It Up.

From my position right on top of the grandstand and level with the line I though Palace Jester had just done enough.

Rev It Up set the pace, virtually making all, accompanied by Extreme Impact, with Strategic Approach, Palace Jester and Monsieur Cadou all in close attendance.

Turning for home it was down to four, with Rev It Up being chased by Extreme Impact, Palace Jester and Monsieur. Strategic Approach having dropped out quickly and pulling up.

Monsieur Cadou was the first of the leading four to crack.

Come the last and it was a two horse race and there looked to be only one result as Palace Jester jumped into the lead. However Rev It Up was not going to go down without a fight and he slowly narrowed the gap, drawing level as they crossed the line.

Extreme Impact came home third, seven lengths further back. 

13:45 Well after the close finish in the previous race you could not have a more contrasting finish to the extended 2m 3f Bet On Your Mobile Now At coral.co.uk Handicap Chase.

Quincy Des Pictons made most of his allocated bottom weight to come home a convincing 16 length winner, having taken up the running as they lined up for home.

Plein Pouvoir had set the pace, although he was kept to his task by Got Attitude and Take The Breeze, whilst James Best was happy to settle the eventual winner before making progress down the back straight.

After four out Quincy Des Pictons had shaken off Plein Pouvoir and barring any jumping errors the race was over as a contest. The winner was steadied into the last and once Best was happy he had the contest he gently eased his charge to the line.

Top weight, Chance Deu Roy took second spot beating Consigliere by three lengths, with Take The Breeze just edging out Plein Pouvoir for fourth spot in a photograph. 

13:51 Right, it's the big one next as 20 line up for the Coral Welsh National over the extended 3m 5f, two complete circuits of the Chepstow track.

13:57 Viking Blond is fly kicking his way around the Chepstow parade ring before the big one.

14:30  Not for the first time the Welsh National was fought out between front running horses as Giles Cross and Le Beau Bai led from the third fence and were the only two with any realistic chance of winning, barring accidents, as they came home three miles later.

It was Giles Cross who had led and who still held the advantage as they cleared three out but Charlie Poste moved Le Beau Bai upsides and judging by the noise a large percentage of the crowd had backed him.

By the time they came out of the second last the lead had changed and Le Beau Bei pulled clear as Giles Cross was unable to respond, eventually coming home seven lengths clear.

Cappa Bleu came home third, having emerged from the pack as they lined up for home but he was only able to get within 15 lengths of the runner up.

Each-way backers of Bench Warrent will be happy as he came home fourth at the tasty odds of 50/1.

The 6/1 favourite, Viking Blonde - a right royal so-and-so in the parade ring, was never sighted in the contest and eventually pulled up. Indeed the ground took its toll as only eight of the twenty finished, ten of them pulling up.       

14:52  Some respite for the punters as the 13/8 favourite, Hollow Tree, takes the spoils having virtually made all in what was effectively a match with School For Scandal until they turned for home and the final challenge came from Countrywide Flame, who was upsides two out only for Timmy Murphy to ease clear for a 2½ victory.

Secret Edge came home a further 11 lengths back in third spot. 

15:02 I think the stewards have had too much Christmas sherry. Maurice Linehan gets five days for whip use on Palace Jester and a further 10 days in the same race for not riding out the finish.

I cannot see what was wrong with Lineham's ride at the finish - a very odd decision there - damned if you do, damned if you don't.

15:30 Another one for favourite backers as Ambition Wood takes the depleted Ultimate Live Casino Experience At coral.co.uk Maiden Hurdle.

Ten of the original fourteen went to post in a contest where Finnegan Paddy and Mountain Hiker set the pace, with the favourite tracking the leaders.

It was coming to the last that Denis O'Regan took Ambition Wood clear, accompanied by a cacophony of noise from the boisterous Welsh crowd.

Nutin Fancy made some good late progress to take second spot 4½ lengths adrift, with Simply Ben taking third a further five back, another tasty 50/1 each way shot.

16:10 There was a minor upset in the final bumper here at Chepstow as the short priced favourite, Tiger Maguire was only able to finish third, beaten 14 lengths and nine lengths by Village Vic and Noble Park.

The only mare in the field, Rose Foley, set the pace but was overhauled as they turned for home. At this point the favourite looked poised to strike but it turned to nothing.

By contrast Village Vic was soon clear, coming home as he pleased and was another winner greeted by a huge roar.

Noble Park belied his 20/1 odds by running on well into second spot.

Loughalder, who was with the pace for most of the contest, finished a tired third, well ahead of Hearty Royal who spent most of the race looking at the backsides of his rivals.

Rose Foley paid for her front running tactics, eventually coming home in her own time. 

16:17 Some housekeeping to tidy up and the Maurice Lineham ban. I have now seen some BBC footage which shows he dropped his hands in the very final stride. Whether it impacted the result is a moot point and I still think the ten day ban harsh. It will be interesting to see if he appeals.

Anyway that is it from a now quiet Chepstow - well it may be quiet in the racecourse it is heaving outside and it is a matter of finger twiddling until the traffic clears.

We saw a typical Welsh National where it was won from the front. We had a mixture of facile wins and close finishes, including a dead heat.

From Chepstow a very good afternoon, prynhawn da.

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Non-Runners

The time in brackets is the time the horse was officially declared a non-runner.

SC - Self Certificate
VC - Vet's Certificate

Non-runners

Results

12:30 Beginners Chase 3m

13:00 Handicap Hurdle 3m

13:30 Handicap Chase 2m 3f 110yds

14:10  Welsh National 3m 5f 110yds

14:45 Juvenile Hurdle 2m 110yds

15:15 Maiden Hurdle 2m 4f

15:50 Open NH Flat 2m 110yds