PREPARATIONS are well under way for the rescheduled Coral Welsh National day at the Home of Welsh Racing this Saturday (8th January).

Visitors who had purchased tickets to Chepstow Racecourse for 27th December will be able to use them on the new date.

The racecourse office is open again for new ticket sales at £26 (Grandstand and Paddock) and £36 (Premier Enclosure).

On the racetrack, covers are being used once more to protect against any frost.

Richard Holland, general manager of Chepstow Racecourse, said: "2011 is going to be a unique year, one during which there will be not one but two Coral Welsh National days – the delayed 2010 race and the 2011 renewal next Christmas.

"While we were bitterly disappointed to have to call off the raceday on 27th December, we are delighted that everyone – our sponsor Coral, BBC TV and the horse racing authorities – were able to pull together so quickly to come up with a new date.

"Coral Welsh National Day at Chepstow is always a tremendous occasion; not only is it valued by all in jump racing, it is also a major sporting event in Wales generating widespread racing interest. We are now looking forward to a great day's racing on Saturday 8th January."

Both of the major races in Britain over Christmas fell victim to the wintry weather, including the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park.

One man who is pleased that the King George has been re-scheduled for a week after the new Chepstow meeting is the champion jockey and BBC Sports Personality of the Year Tony McCoy, because he is due to ride the favourite Synchonised in the Coral Welsh National.

The man who overwhelmingly won the BBC popular vote revealed afterwards that his next ambition is to the win the Welsh National, the only major horse race that he has yet to win in Britain.

If he is to be successful, his mount will need to defeat the 2009 winner Dream Alliance, who will bid for back-to-back victories, a feat that hasn't been achieved for more than 20 years.

The entire racecard from 27th December has been moved to Saturday 8th January, including the Grade 1 Coral Future Champions Finale Juvenile Hurdle.

The first race is at 12.35pm, with the Coral Welsh National at 1.45pm.

Tickets can be purchased in advance at chepstow-racecourse.co.uk

Accompanied children aged under 16 are admitted free of charge. Senior citizens and students with appropriate identification get a £5 discount, and one carer is admitted free with a disabled badge holder.