Neptune Heads Chepstow Contenders Neptune Collonges has been allotted top weight of 11st 12lb in the Coral Welsh National at Chepstow on December 27.The Paul Nicholls-trained grey won the Grade One Guinness Gold Cup at Punchestown on his last start and is 4lb clear at the head of the weights from Ollie Magern.Nicholls, who won the race twice in the last three years with Silver Birch (2004) and L'Aventure (2005), has his traditional strong hand in this year's renewal.The Shepton Mallet handler can also choose from Gungadu, Mr Pointment (both 10st 11lb), Cornish Sett (10st 9lb), Le Duc (9st 12lb), Geeveem (9st 11lb), Turthen (9st 9lb), L'Aventure (9st 7lb) and The Luder (9st 4lb).Last year's winner Halcon Genelardais (11st 7lb) could bid for a repeat, while Juveigneur (11st 3lb), Simon (11st), Naunton Brook (10st 9lb) and Mon Mome (10st 6lb), who all ran in the race 12 months ago, may go again.Dom D'Orgeval (10st 13lb), Idle Talk (10st 11lb), Dream Alliance (10st 7lb), Baron Windrush (10st 5lb) and Bob Bob Bobbin (10st 4lb) are others to hold leading claims at this stage.(C) PA Sport
