Balding set to take Welsh National

British Previews: It is hard to see beyond Gunner Welburn when it comes to selecting the winner of the Coral Welsh National at Chepstow today.

Ian Balding's charge looks absolutely thrown in for the £75,000 Showcase handicap chase in what is likely to develop into a slog over three miles, five and a half furlongs after scoring over the course earlier this month.

It may have been his handicap chase debut and his first run since joining Balding's yard, but the 10-year-old was no novice having been a leading hunter chaser for the past two seasons when trained by Caroline Bailey.

Treating his rivals with disdain, Gunner Welburn was sent into the lead at the 11th fence by Barry Fenton and clear by the fourth last that he was not seriously challenged.

He simply had to be pointed in the right direction to beat Storm Damage by five lengths. He showed no signs of stopping over that three miles and the extra trip could see him in an even better light.

Andrew Balding, who will take over the reins at Kingsclere from his father, said: "We are very much looking forward to running him. The horse is in terrific shape.

"We slightly felt that before his last run that he was only 90 per cent and if that was the case he's probably 110 per cent now. We are very happy with him.

"Tomorrow is the furthest he's ever been in his life - but fingers crossed."

There are good gallops reports about Dungarvans Choice and Nicky Henderson's charge, eight lengths runner-up to Hand Inn Hand here earlier in the month can land the Novices' Chase.

Henderson can also strike at Kempton courtesy of Got One Too in the J P A Recruitment Wayward Lad Novices' Chase.

This progressive hurdler made a pleasing start to his chasing career when coming home 13 lengths ahead of Midland Flame at Leicester last month and there looks to be more to come.

French trainer Guillaume Macaire, who has taken the Western Daily Press Finale Juvenile Hurdle for the past two years with Jair du Cochet and Tempo d'Or, can complete the hat-trick with Lilium de Cotte.

The three-year-old colt dead-heated for second place on his British debut with Nas Na Riogh behind Don Fernando at Cheltenham earlier this month.

Only beaten three-quarters of a length by the winner, Lilium de Cotte can continue Macaire's successful raids on Chepstow in this Grade One event.

At Wetherby, Peter Beaumont's decision to bypass yesterday's King George VI Chase with Hussard Collonges can be rewarded.

Last season's Royal and SunAlliance Chase winner goes instead for the Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase having run two smashing races without much luck so far this campaign.

After finishing second to Marlborough over this three miles and one furlong in early November, the seven-year-old was a highly-creditable fifth to Be My Royal in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at the end of the month.