The Welsh National is the feature race at Chepstow this afternoon and Colin Tizzard has saddled the winner of the corresponding race twice in the last three years including with Elegant Escape 12 months ago. The seven-year-old is 7/2 market leader at BetVictor to win the race back-to-back and is 4lbs “well-in” for this early closing race having been raised by that amount for finishing third in the Ladbroke Trophy at Newbury last month.

Steely Addition and Now McGinty are much respected but the each way vote goes to Potters Corner (2.50) who landed the Midlands National on heavy ground back in March from a 10lbs lower mark but will be ridden by talented 7lbs conditional Jack Tudor. The selection is 8/1 with BetVictor who are betting each way five places. The 9-y-old warmed up by winning a handicap hurdle here earlier in the month and he ought to be staying on in the long home straight when plenty have cried enough.

In the opener Harry Senior (12.30) steps up in trip for the first time having been done for a turn of foot from the last at Aintree last time over the minimum trip. The selection had previously run well in defeat here and at Exeter and gets the vote for Tizzard. Global Fame landed the odds on his debut for Fergal O’Brien in a Southwell Bumper and it will be interesting to see what the market makes of his chance on his hurdles debut.

Springtown Lake was well backed for the BetVictor Gold Cup but disappointed on the day and he is becoming frustrating. Preference in the two-and-a-half-mile handicap chase is for the hat-trick seeking Eceparti (1.05) who is 11lbs higher than when scoring here last month before following up at Wetherby. Both those successes have been under 5lbs conditional Hugh Nugent and this five-year-old receives weight from the other principles.

In the Grade 1 Juvenile Hurdle Cerberus (1.35) was no great shakes on the flat but has won both starts over timber for Joseph O’Brien. The Irish raider has been bought privately by JP McManus since beating another juvenile in the owner’s colours – A Wave Of The Sea – at Fairyhouse last time and he can take the prize back across the Irish Sea. Allmankind made all to score at Cheltenham last time and was better than the selection on the level, but I just favour the O’Brien gelding who is 15/8 at BetVictor.

At Kempton Altior is a significant absentee from the Desert Orchid Chase with Nicky Henderson reporting that his chaser has an abscess. This year’s Arkle winner Duc De Genievres has disappointed so far this term and I prefer the chances of Bun Doran (2.30) who is 15/2 at BetVictor. The selection finished runner up in his reappearance at Newbury and will have to improve again to take this Grade 2 contest, but I’m not convinced this is the strongest of renewals with 5/4 favourite Sceau Royal disappointing on his reappearance and giving weight to his rivals.

Just A Sting (3.05) made a bad mistake three out when, seemingly, going best in the Badger Beers Silver Trophy before fading into fourth. He can run from the same mark this afternoon. The Harry Fry stable were quiet when the each way selection made his reappearance but are in better form now and at 6/1 with BetVictor I would be disappointed if he didn’t run a big race. Belami Des Pictons ran an extraordinary race in the BetVictor Gold Cup on his reappearance given he was badly hampered early on before running on into a never nearer fourth. The handicapper has dropped him 1lb and he looks a big danger although he does head the market at 3/1.

I was very impressed with the hurdles debut of Goobinator (1.30) at Wetherby and he is taken to follow up over C&D despite carrying a 6lbs penalty for that fluent success. Donald McCain’s juvenile was a winner on the level on fibresand in a light campaign and promises to be better over jumps than he was on the flat.

The Beginners Chase at Leopardstown sees City Island (12.35) and Min go head-to-head and preference for the Neptune Novice Hurdle winner is marginal. The selection beat Champ at Cheltenham over 2m 5f but I am not worried about the drop back in trip. The selection has gone well fresh in the past and he has the potential to go to the very top over fences.

Like everyone else I’m looking forward to seeing Chacun Pour Soi (1.10) in the Grade 1 2m Chase. The selection beat the Tingle Creek winner Defi Du Seuil at Punchestown back in the spring and is 3/1 with BetVictor for the Champion Chase in March ahead of his reappearance.

In the valuable Paddy Power Handicap Chase my two against the field are Solomon Grundy and Minella Fair (2.55) with preference for Noel Meade’s eight-year-old who will appreciate the rain that was due to hit the track on St Stephen’s Day. The each way selection is 20/1 with BetVictor who are betting each way five places on the race.

For all the latest odds head to BetVictor.com and follow @BetVictorRacing on Twitter

Be Lucky!