All of the leading fancies stood their ground at today`s confirmation stage for the Coral Eurobet Welsh National, the marathon handicap chase run on December 27th.
Charlie Mann`s Moral Support leapt to the head of the ante-post betting with his forthright success in the Tote John Hughes Chase at Chepstow on Saturday and is set to carry 10st 4lb including a 4lb penalty for that win.
Next in the sponsors` betting come Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup winner King`s Road, and Edmond, who battled through the heavy going to win this contest 12 months ago.
Both Moral Support and King`s Road are possible runners in Saturday`s Tommy Whittle Chase at Haydock although neither have been confirmed as definite starters.
Mann is keen to get give Moral Support another outing before the Welsh National.
There are three options over the next 10 days - the Tommy Whittle, a handicap hurdle at Bangor on Wednesday and the Tote Silver Cup at Ascot on Saturday week.
'I would like to get another race into him before Chepstow,' said Mann today.
'Haydock is certainly a possibility - it might not be a great race for the prize money but it really depends whether King`s Road runs.
'But the Bangor race might be a better idea as he`s only rated 108 over hurdles - that compares to his chase rating which is now 139 after he was raised 15lb for his last win.
'Bangor is also tempting as he wouldn`t get another penalty for the Welsh National if he won.'
Smarty is also earmarked for the Chepstow showpiece after winning on his first appearance for 627 days at Leicester today.
Mark Pitman`s charge, who will be aimed at the Martell Grand National, is set to carry 9st 9lb (including a 4lb penalty).
'He`s been off after striking into himself and giving himself a nasty blow on the tendon,' said Pitman`s assistant Paul Price.
'He didn`t have the blinkers on today which he was worn for all his other wins and he`s also better on faster ground. But he`s a class horse and jumped really well today.
'He is likely to go for the Welsh National.'
Edmond is reported to be in good shape ahead of his bid to secure the Welsh National for the second year running.
'I`m perfectly happy with him at present and the Welsh National is the plan,' said trainer Henry Daly. 'He will be going straight there without another race.'
But it is doubtful whether stablemate Relaxation - a 16-1 chance with the sponsors - will also line up.
'If the meeting is on, the ground will more than likely be too soft for him,' said Daly. 'He is going to run at Doncaster on Saturday and we`ll make plans for him after that.'
Dom Samourai could bid to go one place better than he did in 1997 when the enigmatic grey chased home Earth Summit.
The nine-year-old has been off the course since being pulled up at the Cheltenham Festival last year, his final start for Martin Pipe.
But new trainer Tom George reports his charge to be settling in well in preparation for a crack at the Chepstow contest.
George said: 'He was given a year off and he has been hunting to freshen him up.
'His owner Brian Kilpatrick sent him to me six weeks ago and he arrived in excellent condition, I am very pleased with the way that he is coming along and we have obviously got a crack at the Welsh National in mind for him.
'If he did run he would go straight there but he wouldn`t go for the race unless I was convinced he was ready to do himself justice.'
Pipe has his traditional strong hand in the race, being responsible for nine of the remaining 53 entries.
The Wellington trainer won the race five times in six years from 1988 to 1993.
His Carvill`s Hill, Aquilifer and Bonanza Boy finished first, third and fourth in 1991 and the following year he sent out the first four home, namely Run For Free, Riverside Boy, Miinnehoma and Bonanza Boy.
sponsors bet: 4-1 Moral Support (from 5-1), 11-2 Kings Road, 6-1 Edmond, 8-1 Good Lord Murphy, Young Kenny, 9-1 Jocks Cross, 10-1 Earthmover, 12-1 Ardent Scout, Flaked Oats, 14-1 Royal Tommy (from 20-1), Ackzo, Take Control, 16-1 bar.
Ladbrokes bet: 9-2 King`s Road, 5-1 Moral Support, 7-1 Edmond, 8-1 Good Lord Murphy, 9-1 Young Kenny, 12-1 Jocks Cross, 14-1 Ardent Scout, Earthmover, Take Control, Smarty, 16-1 bar.
Tote bet: 11-2 Moral Support, 13-2 King`s Road, 7-1 Edmond, 8-1 Good Lord Murphy, 9-1 Young Kenny, 10-1 Take Control, 12-1 Ardent Scout, 14-1 Earthmover, 16-1 bar.
