Date: Saturday 27th December 2025
The Welsh Grand National is always one of the most demanding staying handicaps of the season and, as ever, the long-term trends give us a very strong guide as to the type required.
This is a race that consistently favours horses aged 6-8, carrying manageable weights and arriving here in solid recent form. Stamina is absolutely crucial, but equally important is having the right balance of class and handicap mark.
Using the Turf Talk ratings, we are looking for proven stayers who fit the key trends, arrive in form and still have room for improvement under testing conditions.
These are the runners that come out best on the figures.
TURF TALK RATINGS - LEADING CONTENDERS
| Horse | Turf Talk Rating |
|---|---|
| Haiti Couleurs | 232 |
| O’Connell | 224 |
| Monbeg Genius | 218 |
| Rock My Way | 209 |
| Collectors Item | 201 |
| Deafening Silence | 198 |
The ratings strongly favour horses in the ideal age bracket carrying workable weights, with several fitting the classic Welsh National profile. Proven stamina and recent match fitness have again come out as key factors.
MAIN SELECTION
Haiti Couleurs (5/1 available)
This is exactly the type that tends to win this race.
An 8-year-old with a strong staying profile, he fits the key trends extremely well and arrives here with the right balance of class and recent form. His rating puts him firmly at the top of the shortlist and he looks ideally suited to the demands of this race.
In a contest where stamina, profile and preparation are everything, he ticks more boxes than most.
BACKUP SELECTION 1
O’Connell (9/1 available)
A very solid alternative who fits the overall race profile well.
He stays strongly, comes into this in good form and looks well positioned from a handicap perspective. In a race where proven stamina is key, he looks a major player.
BACKUP SELECTION 2
Monbeg Genius (20/1 available)
A bigger price but one that fits the profile extremely well.
He has proven stamina, sits on a workable mark and looks the type who could outrun his odds in a race that often rewards strong stayers carrying lighter weights.
SUMMARY
Haiti Couleurs is the standout on the ratings and gets the vote, with O’Connell a strong alternative and Monbeg Genius the value angle in a race that regularly rewards the right profile.
