Welsh Grand National 2025 Tips: Bowen to make amends?

After the drama of the King George on Boxing Day, the Welsh Grand National will have to go some to live up to the standard at Chepstow on Saturday afternoon (14:50).

Sean Bowen had the Kempton prize ripped out of his arms in a head-bobber on Friday afternoon, but the champion jockey could soon make amends. Here's my Welsh Grand National 2025 Tips.

Rebecca Curtis feels everything is right for a big run from HAITI COULEURS as she targets a win in Wales' biggest event.

Winner of the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival and the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse in the spring, the eight-year-old made a successful return to action over hurdles at Newbury to tee himself up for last month's Betfair Chase at Haydock.

Things didn't go his way there but the Newport-based handler believes there were mitigating factors.

"He came back from Haydock quite sore on his sacroiliac joint, which we had medicated the Monday after, it seems to have really helped," said ahead of this assignment.

Haiti Couleurs carries 11st 13lb – just a pound below top weight – and while that asks plenty, his trainer hopes her stable star can prove himself the "class horse in the race".

He moved like the winner throughout the Irish National last spring on a testing surface and any further easing of the ground at Chepstow will suit. Bowen knows his horse well and they could be hard to topple over a trip that clearly suits well.

It's 13 months since LIVIN ON LUCO clashed with the aforementioned Haiti Couleurs in a novices' handicap chase at Cheltenham, the Philip Hobbs & Johnson White inmate finding it all a bit tough that day.

He disappointed again at Exeter in January but signed off his season with a decent third over 3m at Ffos Las in March behind the progressive Top Of The Bill from the Nigel Twiston-Davies yard.

Livin On Luco was back in action last month in the Southern National at Fontwell (3m3½f, good to soft) where he made most of the running and won with more in hand than the slender margin suggested as Neo King rattled home while Callum Pritchard was easing off the gas having been looking around for non-existent dangers jumping the second last.

He hasn't so far proved to be the most consistent, but his jumping is a real asset in his corner and, given he's had just five starts over fences, this promising seven-year-old may have more to offer and is fancied to outrun his odds in this Extra Place Race, paying 5 places.

Extra Place Races

Selected race(s). Applies to Each Way, Single & Multiple bets only. Antepost bets don’t apply. Min. runner rules apply. T&Cs Apply.

Sports Welcome Offer

New customers only. Deposit via Debit Card & place first bet £10+ (1/1+) on Sports in 7 days. £30 Sports & £20 Acca Free Bets within 10 hrs of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility, payment excl. & T&Cs Apply.

Click the links for all the latest Horse Racing Odds and Fast Racing Results

Find more Horse Racing Tips here at Betfred Insights