The Big Dog a major contender for Welsh National Today’s Coral Welsh National at Chepstow will be run behind closed doors but that won’t bother connections of The Big Dog if a plan hatched at the end of last season comes to fruition. The Peter Fahey trained eight-year-old has had his year mapped around a tilt at the £150,000 marathon event which was picked out by his owners, Damien and Colin Kelly, as a long-term target shortly after winning a Grand National Trial at Punchestown in February. The relentless galloper will have his optimum conditions in this afternoon’s three miles six furlongs and 130 yards contest which is set to go to post at 2.50pm and he is currently a 6/1 chance with BoyleSports. The Irish bookmaker makes last year’s winner Secret Reprieve their 9/2 favourite despite the Evan Williams-trained gelding having been off the track since that famous victory twelve months ago which tempers enthusiasm. He is however three from three over the course. With 30 runners declared for the Chepstow showpiece it may be worth looking further down the field for a little value in the betting and the 2019 winner Potters Corner is quick to jump off the page at 14/1 with BoyleSports. The 11-year-old bounced back to form with a narrow defeat over the cross country course at Cheltenham two weeks ago and if those exertions haven’t left a mark he should again run a solid race. Potters Corner is another with a strong record at the course with four victories from his five previous visits. Tim Vaughan’s Eva’s Oskar (20/1 BoyleSports) also boasts smart form at the track having won on his last three visits but his stamina is unproven over this sort of extreme distance. Paul Nicholls’ Truckers Lodge is another with strong course form and last year’s seventh placed finisher could represent each-way value at 20/1 with BoyleSports. New Customers of BoyleSports can avail of their enhanced Welcome Offer - Bet €10 Get €50 + Money Back as a free bet on All Losers 1.05pm Chepstow. 18+. IRE & UK mobile customers & in-shop BoyleXtra cardholders. Max Free Bet refund €10 on losing selections. Applies to first bet on race from 2pm on Sunday 26th December on win single & win part of each way single on the outright market. Applies to selected races as advertised on mobile. Antepost/combined odds/Free/void/cashed out bets won’t qualify. Free Bets will expire after 7 days. T&Cs Apply. Begambleaware
