Chepstow Races Today – Get Chepstow Tips from Wales’ Premier Track
From at least late Victorian times, horse racing has taken place close to or on the current site of Chepstow races today. The Wye Valley in Monmouthshire and South Wales in general has historical ties to the sport.
Our guide to Chepstow Racecourse goes beyond simply talking about the Welsh Grand National. The track is synonymous with its biggest race, but there’s more to it than meets the eye. We have Chepstow tips for all horse racing fixtures held here throughout the year.
History of Chepstow Racecourse
On the other side of the Piercefield Park Estate from Chepstow is the village of St Arvans. It was here up until the outbreak of the First World War that housed the historic racecourse.
Local landed gentry and businessmen came together before The Great Depression and financed a new track on the Chepstow side of the Estate. Racegoers can still see the derelict Piercefield House in the back straight. The course as we know it today opened in August 1926, but almost shut immediately due to the financial gamble its benefactors took.
It was clear from the experiences of the summer that Chepstow Racecourse had to offer more than just Flat racing. Little more than six months after the initial fixture, jumps action followed in March 1927.
As Chepstow races today closes in on its centenary in 2026, the trend towards the course offering predominantly National Hunt racing moved forward apace in the Postwar era. The period either side of the Second World War saw the closure of other racetracks in Wales like Ely Racecourse (near Cardiff) and Caerleon (in Newport).
That meant the Welsh Grand National came to Chepstow in 1949. It has been there ever since with this big historical race moving into its current slot of the day after Boxing Day from February (and initially over Easter) in 1979.
Is Chepstow Races Today Flat or Jumps?
Much like its Scottish counterpart Ayr, both codes of horse racing happen at Chepstow. The Flat races here in springtime and over the summer don’t match the quality of their jumps counterparts through the autumn and winter, though.
While it would be a stretch to describe Chepstow races today as one of the busiest racecourses in the UK, there are 30 meetings here in 2025 and it plays a key part in the National Hunt season. The Persian War Novices’ Hurdle held here in October is the first event with graded race status during the core part of the jumping calendar.
Left-handed and very undulating, especially after turning for home, Chepstow suits galloping types. There is a run-in of over half-a-mile where the round course joins the home straight and straight course (used for races of up to a mile).
A complete circuit of Chepstow races today is almost two miles round. Hurdle races see four flights taken down the back straight and three more after turning for home. There are a lot more fences on the steeplechase course, however, with 11 on a circuit.
Six of these are on the back stretch with a further five in the home straight. Horses must jump every fence at Chepstow at least twice when completing and competing in the Welsh Grand National. The last before the winning post is now taken three times in the race.
Key Chepstow Racecourse Fixtures
Two fixtures stand out at Chepstow races today above all others. The most prestigious race meeting is the Welsh Grand National day on 27 December. Prior to that on the second weekend of October, the Jump Season Opener takes place.
Supporting the Welsh National, a Premier Handicap chase over three-and-three-quarter miles, is the Finale Juvenile Hurdle. Although this three-year-olds only contest suffered downgraded race status from Grade 1 to Grade 2, it is still one of the best known age restricted hurdle races in the calendar.
The National Hunt racing action across the two days of the Jump Season Opener in October starts off with the Persian War Novices’ Hurdle on the Friday. A race in the Veterans’ Handicap Chase series containing old favourites that we give Chepstow tips on supports that.
Headlining the Saturday of the Jump Season Opener is the Silver Trophy Handicap Hurdle. A Listed novice chase for the Robert Mottram Memorial Trophy is on the undercard, alongside the Native River Handicap Chase.
The Biggest Races We Give Chepstow Tips On
We’ve touched on most of the valuable Chepstow races today already. There are seven events at the track worth over £20,000 to the winner. Each of these is worth a closer look as we provide tips for Chepstow on them all.
Welsh Grand National
Nothing else holds a candle to the Welsh National in terms of prize money for any horse race in this nation. First place in 2024 was about £85,800. Inaugurated in 1895, it’s now 75 years since its switch to Chepstow.
Featuring on the Welsh Grand National roll of honour are staying steeplechase greats like Rag Trade, Corbiere, Burrough Hill Lad, Cool Ground, Carvill’s Hill, Master Oats, Earth Summit, Bindaree, Silver Birch, Dream Alliance, Synchronised and Native River. The Chepstow horse racing tips don’t come any bigger than this Premier Handicap.
Finale Juvenile Hurdle
First run in 1971, the Finale Juvenile Hurdle is one of the top races of its kind for young horses over the smaller obstacles. Defi Du Seuil was the last winner of this Welsh Grand National day event to go on to the Triumph Hurdle during the Cheltenham Festival.
That highlights the importance of Chepstow tips today with this race in relation to the future. First prize in 2024 was over £47,500. If the Finale Juvenile Hurdle and Welsh National end up abandoned over Christmas, then they are restaged in early January when the ground has had time to thaw and/or dry out.
Silver Trophy Handicap Hurdle
The big handicap hurdle at Chepstow races today in October during the Jump Season Opener, the Silver Trophy began in 1988. Over almost two-and-a-half miles, the race’s roll of honour includes a subsequent Grand National hero in Don’t Push It. There is often a competitive field for those giving Chepstow racing tips to consider.
While the Silver Trophy Handicap Hurdle now only has Class 2 race status, this is down to prize money. If it was as valuable as the Welsh Grand National, then it would be a Premier Handicap too. First place in 2024 came with around £39,000 in winnings.
Persian War Novices’ Hurdle
Replacing the Crick Hurdle in 1977, an event honouring late 1960s hurdling great Persian War was first run at Chepstow over an extended two-and-a-half miles. Initially in February, this race then switched to November in 2000.
Brought forward to late October in 2004, by 2015 it became one of the key contests at the Jump Season Opener dropped in distance to shy of two-and-a-half miles. Reve De Sivola, Silviniaco Conti and Blaklion are some of the high-profile horses that won the Persian War in modern times.
Now an event with Grade 2 race status, any Chepstow races today tips must remember Paul Nicholls’ excellent record. He has nine winners including four since 2016. First prize in the 2024 Persian War Novices’ Hurdle was about £28,500.
Native River Handicap Chase
From 2019 onwards, the Class 2 staying handicap chase over almost three miles was renamed to honour Native River. This racehorse won the old Hennessy Gold Cup, Welsh Grand National and the Cheltenham Gold Cup, among other races, in his storied career.
More mature types aged eight and up have a good record in the Native River Handicap Chase. That is something for those giving Chepstow racing tips today to consider. Decent first place prize money of about £26,000 goes to the winner.
Robert Mottram Memorial Trophy Novices’ Chase
Awarded Listed race status in 2017, just six years after its first edition, the Robert Mottram Memorial Trophy is a novice chase during the Jump Season Opener over almost two-and-a-half miles. Cue Card, a subsequent Betfair Chase and King George winner, took the inaugural running in 2011. Finian’s Oscar also landed this en route to more Grade 1 successes.
Those seeking Chepstow horse tips must accept a small field in this event. That may reflect the racing odds available to punters. In 2024, the prize money for first place was around £23,000 for the Robert Mottram Memorial Trophy. It is often run under a sponsored title.
John Ayres Memorial Handicap Chase
And finally, over the same course and distance as the Listed novice chase, there’s an open Class 2 handicap chase during the Jump Season Opener run in memory of John Ayres. Chepstow race tips must respect anything saddled by Nicholls, who has three recent wins. First prize of over £20,000 came with victory in the John Ayres Memorial Handicap Chase in 2024.
FAQs
Is Chepstow races on today?
Due to extremes of going, especially during the winter when the ground gets so heavy as to be unraceable, race meetings at Chepstow may end up called off. Check official channels to find out if racing has been abandoned.
Where is Chepstow Racecourse?
Chepstow has a Newport postcode of NP16 6BE with the track located north of the town. It is very close to the border between England and Wales on the west side of the Wye Valley near where the river of the same name flows into the Severn Estuary.
Is Chepstow races cancelled today?
In the event of Chepstow races today abandoned due to heavy ground, an official announcement will be made on the course’s social media channels following an inspection of the track.
Where can I watch Chepstow races today?
Check out ITV Racing for coverage of the big meetings from Chepstow. Sky Sports Racing broadcasts the rest.
How far is the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow?
Although the precise yardage varies down the years, the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow is about three-and-three-quarter miles. Based on current measurements, the exact distance is just over 6,150m using the metric system.
Where can I find tips and Chepstow races results today?
You’ll find Chepstow races tips right here on this very page. If our AI algorithms identify something, then it appears. All Chepstow races today results show up elsewhere on the site. We have a dedicated horse racing results page that shows fast results from all tracks in the UK and Ireland.
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