Keane Has It All To Play For

Paul Keane is looking forward to a big run from All In The Stars in the Coral Welsh National at Chepstow on Wednesday.

The trainer was more than happy with his stable star's seasonal reappearance at Prestbury Park, where he travelled kindly for much of the contest.

'He said he's a superb jumper with his own technique. He's only a small horse but he's very neat and Neil (Mulholland) loved him the first time he rode him at Cheltenham,' Keane said.

'He's in great form and I think he ran a very good race at Cheltenham last time.

'He slipped on landing after the third-last there and he was as close as he'd ever been in a chase at that point.

'He was tracking Cornish Rebel and just slipped on landing. Neil then accepted his fate as that obviously cost him several lengths and he coasted home in his own time to finish 10th.

'I couldn't be happier with that run but Chepstow can get quite testing.'

Sounding a further note of caution, he added: 'It's obviously a very competitive race.

'The track and conditions are slightly unknown and the trip won't be a problem but the other thing is that it looks as though the weights could go up.

'I don't think any horse has defied more than 11st for a very long time but he's in good form and he's obviously of the calibre for that sort of race.

'It justifies him taking his chance and we're looking forward to running him - we think he'll run a good sound race.'

(C) PA Sport