The Racing Horse has been looking forward to the 2012 Coral Welsh National and we hope the weather relents enough so that the rescheduled race will go ahead on Saturday 5 January 2013. Chepstow had only spots of rain on Thursday amounting to half a millimetre, and clerk of the course Keith Ottesen told us: "The going is still heavy but it is looking good as long as the rain holds off, as forecast. Depending on the rate of improvement in the worst areas, one of two fences and hurdles might have to be omitted. I'm still not happy with a couple of fences in the back straight."

The Racing Horse has witnessed close up the training of Teaforthree (pictured in foreground) over the past couple of months and can report the horse is 100% for the race. Teaforthree won the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival demonstrating that stamina is his forte and that victory provided Rebecca Curtis with her first winner at the Cheltenham Festival. His sixth to Bobs Worth in the Hennessy Gold Cup on his latest start proved his well being and the run was most satisfactory.

Teaforthree has the prerequisites

The Chepstow course can catch a lot of horses out but Teaforthree has won there twice before, producing his best Timeform rating of 145 on each occasion. His front-running style and love of the ground aligned to his excellent jumping, good attitude and willingness to respond to pressure are all key attributes needed for this race. Here is what The Racing Horse told the BBC after taking the horse to the beach and before we knew the ground would be heavy: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-20817699

Latest Coral prices for the 2012 Welsh National:

3 Teaforthree 7 Michel Le Bon, Sona Sasta, Viking Blond 10 Giles Cross 12 Master Overseer, Monbeg Dude, Quartz de Thaix, Soll, Universal Soldier 16 Cool Operator 20 Across The Bay 25 Arbor Supreme, Jadanli, Major Malarkey, Our Island 33 Triggerman 40 Harouet, Mon Mome 50 Incentivise

Jadanli is one of the dangers for Paul Gilligan

So who are the dangers? Jadanli at 25/1 with Corals is another who enjoys heavy conditions and his trainer Paul Gilligan has had this race in mind for some time. Winner of the Grade One Powers Gold Cup at Fairyhouse in 2010, Jadanli has had three runs in the last couple of months on his return since he finished third in the Thyestes Chase at Gowran last January. Gilligan said: "Our horse will love the ground. He has been set aside for this race and hopefully get into the money there. I am happy with him and he should run well."

Monbeg Dude carries a light weight and conditions should suit

Michael Scudamore is hoping to keep up a family tradition in the race with Monbeg Dude currently trading at 12/1 with the sponsors. Scudamore's father, former champion jockey Peter, won the race four times on Run And Skip (1985), Bonanza Boy (1988 and 1989) and Carvill's Hill (1991).

Monbeg Dude was last seen winning a valuable handicap at Cheltenham in November, with favourite Teaforthree back in eighth. Scudamore told us: "He is really well. He won nicely enough at Cheltenham and we are very pleased and looking forward to Saturday. It was a good performance last time on softish, heavy ground and you would have to think the way he travelled through the race that an extra two furlongs around Chepstow should not be a problem to him. We could not be happier with him." Because of his light weight Paul Carberry has been given the ride.

Soll is the least exposed but this could count against him on this occasion

Soll at 12/1 is one of the less exposed runners in the field having had just five races under Rules in his life. Now with Jo Hughes in Lambourn, he was fancied for the four-miler at Cheltenham last March when with Willie Mullins. He ran a satisfactory race in the Hennessy to finish eighth but Hughes is confident he will strip fitter at the weekend. She said: "Everything has been fine with him since Newbury, he came out of the Hennessy well. He's had a good preparation and it is all systems go. He was not 100% for the Hennessy as I did not bring him in early enough, but I have been able to get a lot more work into him for this. Owner Derrick Mossop moved him to me from Willie Mullins because he thought he would be better off in a smaller yard where he could be a bigger star."

Sona Sasta is feared

Second favourite at 7/1 is Sona Sasta and he is a live danger after his victory here early in December. David Pipe said of his nine-year old: "Sona Sasta is tough and genuine and has an abundance of stamina and he has a real chance."

Absolutely no chance for Giles Cross!

The Racing Horse does not think Giles Cross (pictured above) has much of a chance this year. Victor Dartnall is hoping his charge can overcome the lack of a preparation run when he tries to win the race at the third attempt. The 11-year-old has been runner-up in the last two renewals and had made one previous racecourse appearance the same season on both occasions. Dartnall's North Devon stables had closed for a few weeks due to an outbreak of equine herpes and Giles Cross goes straight to Chepstow for his first run of the campaign. The trainer said: "He seems very well. It would have been great for him to have had a preparation run but he has had a lot of work and it should be his ground."

Universal Soldier snubbed by Noel Fehily so not a live chance

Trainer Charlie Longsdon saddles Universal Soldier following his fine second at Haydock a month ago to Quartz de Thaix, who is also among the possibles. The trainer told us: "He will love the heavy ground, three and a half miles will suit him and we will put a bit of headgear on. He ran a blinder at Haydock under Felix de Giles but will partnered by Wayne Hutchinson this time. He was very green over fences on his last start and he will only improve. Cheekpieces might also help him a bit. I think he will need them in the Welsh National."

Twiston-Davies has a fine record in the race

Nigel Twiston-Davies is likely to run just one of his two initial entries on Saturday. The trainer has a fine record in the marathon chase having won it with Earth Summit in 1997 and Bindaree in 2003. This year he will rely on Viking Blond, he said: "There would not be much point in running Major Malarkey in the ground. Viking Blond deserves a big one and he has been in good form this season. The horses are running well so I think he will have a good chance."

As our reader will appreciate we have spent some time on this race since the declarations and we believe Teaforthree will win the race for its Welsh trainer Rebecca Curtis and could possibly be a live contender for next year's Aintree Grand National. The Racing Horse has already backed the horse at much bigger prices and the current 7/2 on offer does not really represent value. Our idea of the result is:

1st: Teaforthree 4/1f   2nd: Jadanli 33/1   3rd: Monbeg Dude 12/1   4th: Sona Sasta 11/2

What odds that trifecta? We will be at Chepstow to cheer the horse on, please say hello if you see us...