Vicente must shoulder top weight in Welsh National
Thursday 21 December 2017 14:23, UK
Vicente is at the head of the weights after 33 horses stood their ground for the Coral Welsh Grand National at the confirmation stage.
With five horses above him taken out of the Chepstow marathon, the Paul Nicholls-trained Scottish National hero will shoulder the welter burden off 11st 12lb if taking up his entry next Wednesday.
Others towards the top of the field include Anthony Honeyball's Regal Encore, the Philip Hobbs-trained Rock The Kasbah and Fergal O'Brien's runaway Haydock victor Chase The Spud.
Ante-post lists are headed by Nicky Henderson's Beware The Bear (11st 6lb), while other well fancied horses include the David Dennis-trained Final Nudge (11st 6lb) and Jack Barber's Ask The Weatherman (10st 13lb).
The Irish challenge is headed by last year's runner-up Raz De Maree (11st 1lb), trained by Gavin Cromwell. The 12-year-old could be joined on the journey across the Irish Sea by Noel Meade's Bonny Kate (10st 13lb) and Folsom Blue (10st 12lb) from Gordon Elliott's yard.
