Keith Melrose on why the Welsh National has always been a front-runner's haven

Coral Welsh Grand National (Grade 3) | 4yo+ | 3m6½f | ITV4/Sky

If you were to design a race that was to favour front runners, there are a few factors you would be advised to include. The race should be over fences, and ideally run in midwinter at a track that tends to get heavy. The course would have two sweeping, 180-degree bends, loads of fences in the two straights and a downhill run to the line. The Welsh Grand National ticks quite a few of the boxes.

There are very few places around Chepstow's circuit where ground can be made up easily. A quick run of fences, a sharp turn or a downhill section is never far away. This is partly why there used to be such a mad dash in the opening stages of this race and why it was extended by a furlong in 2019 so that horses had to jump a fence before the first bend.