Welsh Grand National 2025: Top 3 picks to back at Chepstow this weekend
9. O’Connell - 7/1 (Danny McMenamin)
If you are looking for a runner whose entire season has been centred around the 2025 Welsh Grand National, then O’Connell should be right up there, and is a very tempting prospect at ante-post odds of around 7/1 with most of the best online betting sites.
Joel Parkinson and Sue Smith’s revitalised staying chaser arrives at Chepstow in the form of his life, and off the back of an excellent performance at the Betfair Exchange London National, where he showed incredible stamina and accurate jumping - exactly the attributes required for this famous race.
For handicappers, O’Connell ticks all the right boxes, racing from a mid-130 mark and lightly raced for a stayer, meaning he should have plenty in the tank compared to his rivals. His record of five wins and four runners-up from 16 starts over fences also underlines his consistency.
Indeed, the left-handed track could pose a minor concern, but his showing in the Eider Chase, where he finished second, helps calm some nerves. With the yard bullishly claiming “it’s all systems go,” we make O’Connell our top each-way proposition for the Welsh Grand National.
2. Haiti Couleurs - 8/1 (Sean Bowen)
At slightly longer ante-post odds is the Rebecca Curtis-trained Haiti Couleurs, who has proven class and Festival-winning form. At 8/1 and better, he is also excellent value given his pedigree.
The eight-year-old has already recorded a major staying handicap victory, having landed the Irish Grand National last season. That race has long been considered a blueprint for the Welsh National, having yielded multiple Chepstow winners over the years.
Haiti Couleurs’ success at Aintree also highlights another crucial factor: he can handle large fields and chaotic racing scenarios, which is something that lesser-experienced rivals may struggle with at Chepstow and in front of a packed house.
While it is true that his last run was disappointing, we’re overlooking that based purely on the fact that he was being prepped for the Christmas period. If he runs well on the day, it would not come as a surprise to see Sean Bowen end up in the winner’s enclosure.
3. Mr Vango - 15/1 (Jack Tudor)
As far as our outsider pick for the 2025 Welsh Grand National goes, the Sarah Bradstock-trained Mr Vango looks like the one for us and could easily outrun his odds if everything clicks at Chepstow this weekend.
The nine-year-old stayer produced a heroic performance in the Becher Chase, finishing in second place despite carrying top weight over the Grand National fences. Barring all else, that run alone proves he has the resilience and stamina required for this marathon handicap.
Another crucial factor - Mr Vango has previous Welsh National form and is well-suited to the long straights here at Chepstow, where a big finish is vital. Unlike other longer-priced runners, he has already shown he can compete in staying handicaps, rather than just relying on hope when stepping up in trip.
