Three Irish among 32 Welsh entries Bluesea Cracker, Arbor Supreme and Becauseicouldntsee are among the 32 horses to have stood their ground for the Coral Welsh National at Chepstow on December 27th. However the Irish challenge has been weakened by the withdrawal of the Jim Dreaper pair Notre Pere, winner of the race in 2008, and Telenor. Noel Meade has also taken out Pandorama. Dream Alliance and Silver By Nature, first and second in the stamina test last year, are due to clash again. Jonjo O'Neill's Synchronised, ante-post favourite for some time, remains in along with Paul Nicholls' Watamu Bay. Dance Island, Hello Bud and Summery Justice are other notables still engaged. Prospects of the meeting taking place, however, are hanging in the balance. "Things will improve over the Christmas weekend, maybe not by Christmas Eve or Saturday, but certainly by Boxing Day," said clerk of the course Keith Ottesen. "Given that we have 8-10cm of snow on the track we do need a bit of help. We could do with the thaw coming in as early as possible. For the time being we are taking it day by day and hoping for the best. "We covered the course last Wednesday in its entirety, 128,00 square feet which is the first time that has ever happened. We are going to give it every chance, the Welsh National is such a huge event for us and for Wales so we'll give it every chance."
