THE 2006 Coral Welsh National hero Halcon Genelardais will bid to create history by winning the race again two days after Christmas. It's almost 20 years since a horse achieved back- to-back wins in the showpiece event of the year at Chepstow Racecourse. But that is the aim for the seven-year-old - trained by Alan King in Wiltshire – which is among a star- studded list of entries for the three and three- quarter mile race on 27 December. The initial list of horses for the race was announced last week. Simon Lee, Executive Director of Chepstow Racecourse, said: "These are cracking entries for the 2007 Coral Welsh National – just under 100 horses which is a good increase on previous years. "Advance tickets are selling well, and we're already looking forward to a superb day." Coral's 34-year sponsorship of the highlight of Chepstow Racecourse's year is one of the longest, not only in horse racing but also in all sports. The bookmaker makes Champion Trainer Paul Nicholls's Gungadu their initial 8-1 ante-post favourite for 2007, with Halcon Genelardais at 9 -1.While the weights for the race will not be announced until Thursday, the leading horses in the race are set to be Paul Nicholls's Neptune Collonges, Nigel Twiston-Davies's Ollie Magern, and Halcon Genelardais. Other interesting entries are the 2005 winner L'Aventure – also from Paul Nicholls's Somerset stables – two Herefordshire horses – Michael Scudamore's Heltornic and Venetia Williams's Flintoff which is owned by cricketer Andrew Flintoff – 2005 Midlands Grand National winner Philson Run, 2003 Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup winner Strong Flow, and Sir Rembrandt, the horse that was second at Chepstow in the same season and recently returned to winning ways at Cheltenham. The two horses that followed home Halcon Genelardais last December are engaged in the race again, namely Mon Mome for Venetia Williams and Juveigneur for Nicky Henderson. Trainer Francois Doumen's L'Ami is the sole- trained French horse, but no fewer than 17 of the 94 overall entries are from Ireland. Six horses represent The Principality, two from Alison Thorpe's Carmarthenshire stables, one each from Evan Williams, Keith Goldsworthy and Dai Burchell, while the entrant that lives closest to Chepstow Racecourse is dual Lincolnshire National winner Victory Gunner, from Craig Roberts's training yard near Newport. Run for the first time 112 years ago, the Welsh National moved to Chepstow Racecourse in the late 1940s. Coral sponsors the whole seven-race card on Thursday 27 December, including the £50,000 Grade 1 Coral Future Champions Finale Juvenile Hurdle. Business remains brisk at the racecourse as people take advantage of the chance to buy their tickets for Coral Welsh National day. As it's the busiest occasion of the year at the racecourse, visitors are strongly advised to purchase in advance to avoid queuing at the entrances. The first race is currently scheduled for 12.20pm, with entrance gates opening two hours before. Tickets can be ordered in person at the racecourse or over the phone on 01291 622260, or buy online at http://www.chepstow-racecourse.co.uk">www.chepstow-racecourse.co.uk. General admission: Grandstand & Paddock Enclosure £21; Premier Enclosure £30. Accompanied children aged under 16 are admitted free of charge. More details about racing at Chepstow are available on web site http://www.chepstow-racecourse.co.uk">www.chepstow-racecourse.co.uk; alternatively contact the Racecourse Office on 01291 622260.