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Chepstow optimistic about Welsh National card

Chepstow RacecourseChepstow Racecourse
© Photo Healy Racing

Officials at Chepstow remain optimistic the rearranged Coral Welsh Grand National meeting will beat the weather on Saturday.

The original fixture was abandoned due to waterlogging last week and though more rain has battered the course, it was raceable on Wednesday.

"We've got very strong winds and that could be a benefit to us," said clerk of the course Keith Ottesen yesterday.

"We had plenty of rain last night but it stopped and actually the wind is drying it out tarmac that hadn't been dry for a few days so it's going to have a similar effect on the track as well.

"I'm not saying it's going to dry out but it's going to have a marginally good, effect though we wouldn't want much more rain.

"From yesterday morning to midnight we had 14mm. We had 3mm in the morning and another 11mm yesterday evening which was quite a bit heavier than we thought, but, miraculously, we could race if it was today. It's very heavy (ground) but we're still in with a chance.

"It's dry today, another band of rain Thursday morning from 3am to 8am, but not a massive amount. More or less dry the rest of Thursday, showery on Friday, once again not enormous amounts and hopefully dry on Saturday. We remain very hopeful and positive."