2009 Welsh National – McCoy and Nicholls team up for Glory

Welsh National Handicap Chase
Chepstow
Monday, December 28th
2.10 pm

The Welsh National highlights that it is a great time of the year to enjoy some wonderful horse racing action. After the thrill of the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day, we can head over to Chepstow for a spot of Welsh National action, which should turn out to a be a good contest. Course officials are confident that the meeting on Monday, December 28th will go ahead. There will be an early morning inspection on the course, because there was a large downpour of rain, followed by some sub-zero temperatures, but Monday should bring a nice day over the Welsh town.

For the race, there is a coming together of two of the horse racing scene’s most prominent names. Jockey Tony McCoy will be the on the back of The Tother One, who is trained by one of the most respected trainers in the UK, Paul Nicholls. Although it has not happened too often, when they have come together to form a partnership, they have a 34% success rate, which is a pretty good stat to draw some confident bets. While this team will be popular with the punters, the horse himself has not had much rest, with a run out at Cheltenham earlier in the month.

Starting as favourite, The Tother One came in second after making a mistake, four fences out. This will have shortened the ante-post odds on Le Beau Bai, who is the race favourite. Le Beau Bai, trained by Richard Lee, won his last 3 mile handicap chase at Chepstow earlier in December, and that will put him in good steed. The Welsh National, which is run over 3 miles, 5 and a half furlongs, has one outstanding candidate for an each way bet. Halcon Genelardais has won the race before, finish second, and then third last year. He is a stayer and a general all round performer, and seems to like the run at Chepstow. He will need to improve a little over his last outing, when he finished fourth behind Kauto Star in small field of seven. Still, as an each way bet in a 20 strong field, it coul be a nice little side bet in addition to picking a winner.

Another good shot to watch out for, would be Operation Houdini, simply because of being at a lighter weight, and a slightly younger age than some of the other main challengers. Old Benny, for the same reasons can pose a threat, and this is one field where potential danger can spring from any area of the field. One name that may attract some interesting bets, will be Mon Mome (40/1 at Ladbrokes), who came from absolutely nowhere as a 100/1 outsider to win the Grand National at Aintree in April. Finished third in the last outing in November, which was a 3 mile novice hurdle at Cheltenham. But a lot of attention will be on “The Tother One” to see if the hot partnership of Tony McCoy and Paul Nicholls can pull off another win.

Welsh National (Going Soft, to Heavy)
Le Beau Bai – 5/1 at William Hill
The Tother One – 6/1 at Bet365
Halcon Genelardais – 10/1 at BetFred
Silver By Nature – 11/1 at Paddy Power
Operation Houdini – 12/1 at 12/1 Stan James
Flint off – 12/1 at Blue Square
Gone to Lunch – 14/1 at BetFred
Old Benny – 14/1 at 888 Sport