Dave Nevison's top tips: Welsh National can go to 8-1 improver
By Dave Nevison
Last Updated: Fri 8 Dec 2023
By Dave Nevison
The Coral Welsh Grand National on Saturday is a cracker but it lacks a class element and as a consequence I am more confident than ever about Tom George’s Wild West Wind - the horse I recently put up on the Channel when filling the schedule on an otherwise blank day.
Nobody was watching or caring about my thoughts because the price has not moved about Wild West Wind and 8-1 is still freely available. A few firms are bound to be offering extra places on the ace and I am going to have a decent go each-way.
Wild West Wind won the trial for this race over shorter on what will be similarly testing ground. The postponement of the race over Christmas has given him a few more days to recover from that slog and that can only have improved his chance.
His jumping was a positive as a novice last season and he was really proficient last time. He idled a little but dismissed his challengers comfortably and, to my eye, he scored in impressive style.
I like horses who are ridden up with the pace at Chepstow and Wild West Wind got into a good rhythm last time. If he has come on slightly for that run and he will take some stopping.
Nine is the perfect age for a staying handicap chaser in my view and I make him my nap selection and recommend a good bet each-way at the best place terms you can get as I simply cannot see this field of useful but largely exposed chasers keeping him out of the frame.
The prevailing heavy ground has caused fields to cut up at Sandown, where Nico de Boinville can guide Call Me Lord to victory in the finale.
He was well backed when winning here last season and looked very much one to follow for this term.
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It was a little disappointing that he was beaten at Huntingdon when an odds-on favourite on his reappearance but he took a bump at a crucial point three out and his jockey was not too hard on him afterwards.
Top weight is never easy in these conditions but he is a class act and Nicky Henderson, like De Boinville, is in good form.
Dusky Legend has been a beaten favourite three times recently and then fell when looking like challenging last time at Newbury.
Backers could be forgiven for losing faith but she is an accomplished mare who acts well on heavy ground.
She can make amends for her supporters now she is back over hurdles and against her own sex. She is listed grade over hurdles and this is a good - and also fortuitous - bit of placing by Alan King as she has only four to beat.
Dave’s top trio for Saturday:
12.45 Sandown: Dusky Legend
2.05 Chepstow: Wild West Wind at a general 8-1 (each-way nap)
3.35 Sandown: Call Me Lord at 4-1 with William Hill
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