Horse racing betting: Coral Welsh National

The Coral Welsh National at 2.05pm at Chepstow is often run in a bog and there is still time for the going currently described as Good to Soft to worsen, and in going of that ilk, the highly-fancied top-weight, Halcon Genelardais would certainly come into the equation for the Welsh marathon. Click here for a free £25 to bet on the Coral Welsh National with Totesport Last year's winner ploughed through the mud in great style to take this race, which at the time, was his fourth chase success in five outings but it was notable that his only blot in that sample was in unsuitably good ground. Alan King's stable is sure to be doing the rain dance over the festive period and Ladbrokes rate his charge as a creditable challenger to favourite Miko de Beauchene by going 6/1. Miko de Beauchene is as short as 4/1 with Ladbrokes and Betfred as Robert Alner's gelding receives a whopping 21lbs from the top-weight. Like all good long distance horses, Miko had a prep run over hurdles to keep his handicap mark down, but to also give him a pipe-opener before this most testing contest. The race at Newcastle saw him finish three-lengths behind Eden Linty, but his best run over the bigger obstacles recently was when finishing second to Heltornic in a Grade 2 chase at Wetherby. That form would see him run a big race with such a weight allocation, and it is understandable why he is so short in some lists. Nigel Twiston-Davies has long been a shrewd operator when sending out horses over marathon trips and his Baron Windrush should be considered despite being pulled up last time out at Cheltenham. The nine-year-old has won twice over this distance in the past and has six wins to his name over distances in excess of three miles. If it's a dour day, you want this one on your side. Phillip Hobbs has entered the consistent pair of Parson's Legacy and Dream Alliance, both of whom looked guaranteed to stay the trip. Dream Alliance is the shortest of the two in the betting at 9/1 with Bet365. Paul Nicholls has entered four for this race with 2005 winner L'Aventure featuring in the reserve lists, with Gungadu and Geeveem looking his most likely candidates. Gungadu has the benefit of Ruby Walsh for this assignment and his win over three miles and half a furlong last year on heavy ground bodes well for his chances over this kind of extreme distance. His victory in Ascot's Grade 2 Reynoldstown Chase in February also highlights his class and the seven-year-old quite rightly is short in the betting at a best-price 11/2 with Coral. Geeveem slips in off a feather weight and is also assisted by the fact that Liam Heard has a 3lb allowance. Sam Thomas was on board last time out when he hacked up over 3m 3f in a handicap at Wincanton at the end of last month and he goes well in the mud. He looks unexposed with just four chase starts to his name and may be seriously ahead of the handicapper. Only Halcon Genelardais has won this contest carrying over 11st in the last ten years and with several wins over 3m on his CV, and the light weight, the 12/1 with Totesport looks a decent price. Paul Nicholls has one this twice in the last three years and if Geeveem runs he looks worth support. Verdict: 2pts E/W Geeveem @ 12/1 (Totesport) Click here for a free £25 to bet on the Coral Welsh National with Totesport