Chepstow inspect

Chepstow will have to pass a precautionary inspection at 8am if tomorrow’s Coral Welsh National is to go ahead.

The track is raceable at present but with temperatures set to drop below freezing overnight, clerk of the course Tim Long feels it prudent to make an early morning check.

“We have called an inspection in light of the forecast, which predicts clear skies for the next 36 hours and a drop to minus one,” he said.

“If that forecast is correct, we would be very optimistic.

“We have covered the areas of the track that are more vulnerable than others and we just felt it best to keep everyone informed.”

The Welsh National is the headline event on a card that also boasts the Grade One Coral Future Champions Finale Juvenile Hurdle and Long reports the track to be in good condition.

He added: “The ground is soft. We had about one and a half millimetres of rain in drizzle on Christmas Eve but we have a lot of fresh ground saved for tomorrow.”