MEDIA RELEASE 22 NOVEMBER ENTRIES FOR THE 2017 CORAL WELSH GRAND NATIONAL

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1 MEDIA RELEASE 22 NOVEMBER ENTRIES FOR THE 2017 CORAL WELSH GRAND NATIONAL A total of 75 horses have been entered for the 2017 Coral Welsh Grand National, with the sponsors making Harry Fry s top weight, American, the ante post favourite at 10/1. A successful novice chase campaign last year saw American win three times, beating Philip Hobbs Rock the Kasbah last time out at Uttoxeter. Other notable entries include Perfect Candidate, a winner at Cheltenham s November Meeting last week, along with Carole s Destrier, beaten only half a length by subsequent Coral Welsh Grand National winner Native River in the 2016 Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury. Saturday s BetVictor Gold Cup winner, Splash Of Ginge, is entered by Nigel Twiston Davies whilst Noel Meade s Monksland is the highest rated of eight entries from Ireland Coral Welsh Grand National winning trainer Colin Tizzard is responsible for five entries in total, including the ultra-consistent Theatre Guide along with Royal Vacation, who both run in the famous colours of Mrs Jean Bishop. The same number of entries come from local trainers Evan Williams and Kerry Lee, with Champion Trainer Paul Nicholls entering four along with Nicky Henderson, Michael Scudamore and Fergal O Brien. The full entries for the 2017 Coral Welsh Grand National, along with early prices from the sponsors are included below. "The opening show for this year's Coral Welsh Grand National has American as our 10-1 favourite. Harry Fry's charge is a leading fancy for the Ladbrokes Trophy and so could be

2 bidding to complete the same Newbury/Chepstow double that Native River achieved last season," said Coral's David Stevens. Executive Director of Chepstow Racecourse, Phil Bell said, We are delighted with a strong set of entries for the Coral Welsh Grand National. Last year s renewal attracted a modern-day record attendance and we are looking to build on that and ensure the biggest race in Wales goes from strength to strength. Chepstow Racecourse will be proud to welcome soprano Rebecca Evans along with Shân Cothi to sing the Welsh National Anthem along with the regiment of the Welsh Guards to accompany the Coral Welsh Grand National trophy to the winner s podium. For more information on the Coral Welsh Grand National meeting at Chepstow Racecourse and to purchase tickets, please visit ENDS For further information please contact: Phil Bell Executive Director, Chepstow Racecourse Office: Mobile: pbell@arenaracingcompany.co.uk Web: Sam Cone PR & Communications Manager Arena Racing Company Office: Mobile: scone@arenaracingcompany.co.uk Web: 3rd Floor, Millbank Tower, Millbank, London, SW1P 4QP

3 NOTES TO EDITORS: Coral Welsh Grand National sponsor's betting 10 American, 12 Rock The Kasbah, Vicente, 14 Final Nudge, Pobbles Bay, Singlefarmpayment, Vieux Lion Rouge, Vyta Du Roc, 16 Ask The Weatherman, Binge Drinker, Champers On Ice, Cogry, Houblon Des Obeaux, Logical Song, Robinsfirth, Vintage Clouds, Wotzizname, 20 Baywing, Carole s Destrier, Mala Beach, Mysteree, Potters Legend, Raz De Maree, Silsol, Sugar Baron, Three Faces West, Wild West Wind, 25 Bar Race Details for 14:50 THE CORAL WELSH GRAND NATIONAL HANDICAP STEEPLE CHASE (CLASS 1) (Grade 3) at CHEPSTOW on 27/12/2017 Animal Age Weight Owner Trainer American (FR) The Jago Family Harry Fry Partnership Perfect Candidate ISL Recruitment Fergal O'Brien Carole's Destrier Mrs C. Skipworth Neil Mulholland Theatre Guide Mrs Jean R. Bishop Colin Tizzard Label des Obeaux David Sewell & Terry Alan King (FR) Warner Vieux Lion Rouge Prof Caroline Tisdall & Mr David Pipe (FR) John Gent Vicente (FR) Mr Trevor Hemmings Paul Nicholls Monksland Mrs Patricia Hunt Noel Meade Regal Encore Mr John P. McManus Anthony Honeyball Rock The Kasbah Mrs Diana L. Whateley Philip Hobbs Mala Beach Mr C. Jones Gordon Elliott Baie des Iles (FR) Mrs Z. Wentworth Ross O'Sullivan Royal Vacation Mrs Jean R. Bishop Colin Tizzard Southfield Theatre Mrs Angela Yeoman Paul Nicholls Singlefarmpayment Mr N T Griffith & H M Tom George Haddock Beware The Bear Mr G. B. Barlow Nicky Henderson Raz de Maree (FR) James J. Swan Gavin Cromwell Final Nudge Corbett Stud David Dennis Three Faces West Paul & Clare Rooney Philip Hobbs Baywing David & Nicky Robinson Nicky Richards Pobbles Bay Mr David M. Williams Evan Williams Bishops Road Mr Alan Halsall Kerry Lee

4 Houblon des Obeaux Mrs Julian Blackwell Venetia Williams (FR) Champers On Ice Professor Caroline Tisdall & David Pipe Bryan Drew Goodtoknow Burling Lee MacEchern Kerry Lee Nolan Potter Robinsfirth Christine Knowles & Wendy Colin Tizzard Carter Kingswell Theatre Mr John J. Murray Michael Scudamore Buywise Mr T. Hywel Jones Evan Williams Vintage Clouds Mr Trevor Hemmings Sue Smith Bonny Kate Mrs Patricia Hunt Noel Meade Wotzizname Mr C. J. S. Horton Harry Fry Bigbadjohn Mr Nigel Morris Rebecca Curtis Flintham The Rasher Partnership Mark Bradstock Splash of Ginge Mr J. D. Neild Nigel Twiston-Davies Vyta du Roc (FR) Mr Simon Munir & Mr Isaac Nicky Henderson Souede Chase The Spud Mrs C. Banks Fergal O'Brien Cogry Graham and Alison Jelley Nigel Twiston-Davies Ask The Weatherman Mr David Martin & Mr Paul Jack R. Barber Barber Wild West Wind Mr Simon W. Clarke Tom George Mysteree Mrs Lynne Maclennan Michael Scudamore Viva Steve Paul & Clare Rooney Fergal O'Brien Sir Mangan Mr Frank McAleavy Dan Skelton Milansbar Mr Robert Bothway Neil King Folsom Blue Core Partnership Gordon Elliott O'Faolains Boy Hyde, Roddis, Outhart, Hill Rebecca Curtis & Curtis Buckhorn Timothy The Buckhorn Racing Team Colin Tizzard Potters Legend Mrs J. May Lucy Wadham Royale Knight C. E. Stedman & R. J. Dr Richard Newland Corsan Sugar Baron Mr Anthony Speelman Nicky Henderson Bally Longford Ann & Alan Potts Limited Colin Tizzard Kansas City Chief Mr Tony Bloom Neil Mulholland Lessons In Milan Mr Trevor Hemmings Nicky Henderson Rathlin Rose Mr Fergus Wilson David Pipe Warrantor Mrs Sarah Drysdale Warren Greatrex Alfie Spinner Alan Beard & Brian Beard Kerry Lee Cloudy Too Formulated Polymer Sue Smith Products Ltd Solstice Star E & G Racing Partnership Martin Keighley

5 Streets of Promise Gempro Michael Scudamore Firebird Flyer Mr R. E. R. Williams Evan Williams Courtown Oscar Nobaj Ltd Philip Kirby On The Road Mrs C. Williams Evan Williams Bob Ford Dr R. D. P. Newland Dr Richard Newland Cresswell Breeze Bright N Breezy Anthony Honeyball Tanit River Brian Ead & Martin Moore Tim Vaughan Alvarado Mr & Mrs William Rucker Fergal O'Brien Russe Blanc (FR) Mr Mark Jackson Kerry Lee Emperor's Choice The Bellamy Partnership Venetia Williams Chef d'oeuvre (FR) McNeill Family Warren Greatrex Two Smokin Barrels Mr Martin Jones Michael Scudamore Nansaroy Mr T. Hywel Jones Evan Williams Krackatoa King J.C.Harrison Lee & Kerry Lee T.Howard Partnership Silsol (GER) Michelle And Dan Paul Nicholls Macdonald Binge Drinker Corsellis & Seyfried Paul Nicholls Mick The Jiver Jiver Syndicate Eoghan O'Grady Logical Song D. Furini Ms Margaret Mullins Top Trainers by number of entries: 5 Evan Williams 5 Colin Tizzard 5 Kerry Lee 4 Nicky Henderson 4 Paul Nicholls 4 Michael Scudamore 4 Fergal O Brien About ARC: Arena Racing Company ( ARC ) is the largest racecourse operator in the UK. In 2017 ARC racecourses will host 540 fixtures with 1.2 million people attending racing at one of ARC s racecourses each year. ARC is made up of the following sixteen racecourses: Bath, Brighton, Chepstow, Doncaster, Ffos Las, Fontwell Park, Great Yarmouth, Hereford, Lingfield Park, Newcastle, Royal Windsor, Sedgefield, Southwell, Uttoxeter, Wolverhampton and Worcester.

6 ARC runs four of the six all-weather racecourses in the UK offering three different types of surface for horses to run on: Polytrack at Lingfield Park, fibresand at Southwell Racecourse and tapeta at Newcastle and Wolverhampton Racecourses the only tapeta racing surfaces in Europe. In 2013 ARC pioneered the All-Weather Championships which see horses compete throughout the winter for the chance of qualifying for a 1 million Finals Day on Good Friday at Lingfield Park. This initiative is helping raise the profile and prestige of all-weather racing in Great Britain. ARC hosts racing at all levels of the sport from Class 7 through to Group 1s. Doncaster Racecourse is home to the world s oldest Classic, the St Leger, run each year in September as part of the four-day St Leger Festival. Feature jumps races include the Grade 1 Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle Racecourse, the Welsh National at Chepstow Racecourse and Midlands National at Uttoxeter Racecourse. As well as racing, ARC also operates a hotel at Wolverhampton Racecourse, a hotel, spa resort and golf course at Lingfield Park and The Border Minstrel public house at Newcastle Racecourse in the grounds of Gosforth Park. ARC is a significant shareholder in the horseracing TV channel At The Races which is broadcast on the Sky platform to c.14 million homes, and a JV partner with Racing UK in GBI Racing which sells UK and Irish Racing to betting shop operators around the world. In 2015 ARC set up The Racing Partnership. This limited company represents the media rights of the 15 ARC owned-racecourses and the 7 independent racecourses Fakenham, Ffos Las, Hexham, Newton Abbot, Plumpton, Ripon and Towcester. ARC plays a pivotal role in British Racing. It is a shareholder in British Champions Series and Racecourse Data Company; a signatory to a British Horseracing Authority s and Horsemen s Group Prize Money Agreement; and on the boards of the Racecourse Association ( RCA ), Great British Racing ( GBR ) and British Champion Series ( BCS ). ARC employs over 500 permanent staff and engages with 3,500 casual staff for racing and events across its racecourses. Further information about ARC can be found at

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