THE spotlight of the racing world fell on Chepstow yesterday, (27th December) for its biggest race of the year.

A capacity crowd of 11,500 enjoyed fair weather and a memorable performance by the winner of the Coral Welsh Grand National, six-year-old chestnut Native River.

Four of Chepstow’s races were also featured on the last ever Channel 4 Racing programme; after 32 years of their coverage ITV will take over in 2017.

On Boxing Day Colin Tizzard dominated Kempton’s King George VI Chase when Thistlecrack slammed his popular stablemate Cue Card. Yesterday, his yard supplied the 11/4 favourite for the Welsh National in the shape of Native River, who won the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury last month.

Visitors enjoyed some sun through the day, with frost making the going more testing than of late, and it was soft, good to soft in places.

At 2.40pm, once Bryn Terfel and Rebecca Evans set the scene with a powerful rendition of the Welsh national anthem, the starter got the 20 runners away to a good level break.

Native River was prominent early and Richard Johnson let him take the lead well before the end of the first circuit. He bowled along merrily and a big jump at the fourth last left him five lengths ahead, a margin that doubled by the next fence.

The Irish-trained Raz De Maree was the only one able to emerge from the pack and he was flattered to finish within a length and three quarters as the winner was allowed to coast home. The third, Houblon Des Obeaux, was 15 lengths adrift.

This was a terrific weight-carrying performance reminiscent of Carvills Hill, especially as Native River is still only a six-year-old. It makes him a major contender for Gold Cup honours, subject to whatever happens with Thistlecrack, or possibly even the Grand National.