2010 Welsh National Set for Chepstow on December 27

We are still awaiting the final declarations but the Welsh National is shaping up to be an intriguing contest with no clear favourite emerging in the race set to unfold the day after Boxing Day. The antepost market is in full swing right now and some supremely excellent prices can still be locked in on a number of talented contenders.

Synchronised is considered to be the current antepost favourite but he’s trading as high as 8/1. He will really need a big step up to tackle a race like this one and the only real reference he has to his credit is a listed score at Uttoexeter back in March. He has scored at Chepstow at a 3m distance but that was against lighter company than he’ll be facing here. Anywhere in single digits is too short for the Jonjo O’Neill-trained seven year-old.

Burton Port and Neptune Collonges both looked promising contenders but appear to be pointed in other directions.

Any Currency, a runner-up in the Grade 3 Morson Group Handicap Chase, will be taking some money at his 12/1 listing. He’s been knocking on the door for a while now, facing off against some relatively talented company and acquitting himself well.

One to keep an eye on is Poker De Sivola, who is still not confirmed for this one, but could make a real statement as he flourishes at the distance. This is, however, a seasonal debut for the Ferdy Murphy charge and he may need a race as this one will be a real test. He can be had as high as 25/1 at the moment and that does bring him into the antepost equation.

Dream Alliance has potential but just hasn’t been able to finish races with three PU’s on the bounce now.

A few weeks out from the race, the play appears to be Noel Meade’s Irish invader PANDORAMA, who had a stellar record before coming back from nearly a year off only to be pulled up in the Hennessy Gold Cup. He scored over several talented geldings last year including Weapon’s Amnesty with only a loss to Mikael D’Haguenet in a Grade 1 novice hurdle derailing ten wins in a row between January 2008 and December 2009.