IT is more than 43 years since a horse trained in Wales won the Welsh National.

Norther, trained in the Vale of Glamorgan, was the last horse stabled in The Principality to claim glory on the showpiece day of the whole year at Chepstow Racecourse. That was back in 1965 when the race was run in the spring.

Welsh sport is in the ascendancy, with the triumphs of Joe Calzaghe and the rugby union national team.

Now, in 2008, can the greatest horse race in Wales be won once again by a horse trained in Wales?

There is growing confidence that the long losing run could come to an end on Saturday 27 December.

Six horses trained in Wales are among the initial entries - two each from trainers Peter Bowen and Evan Williams and one apiece from the stables of Tim Vaughan and Keith Goldsworthy.

Two of the horses - High Chimes at the training yard of Evan Williams in the Vale of Glamorgan and Kings Euro close by at the stables of Tim Vaughan - are prominent in the betting.

Cheltenham Festival winner High Chimes made an excellent seasonal debut, finishing sixth in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury on Saturday 29th November, a race that has set him up superbly for the £100,000 Coral Welsh National.

Coral put the odds on a horse trained in Wales winning the Coral Welsh National at 4-1.

Evan Williams says: "High Chimes ran a great race in the Hennessy. The Coral Welsh National is the aim, and he's spot on. Everything is ready for Chepstow."

But it won't be easy for the Welsh-trained horses. The last two winners of the Coral Welsh National are coming back for more.

Miko De Beauchene fought out a thrilling finish to the three mile five furlong race last December with the 2006 winner Halcon Genelardais.

But neither is the current ante-post favourite. Coral make a horse from the same stables as Halcon Genelardais - Alan King's yard in Wiltshire - a warm order. His name is Nenuphar Collonges. His odds are 5-1.Were Miko De Beauchene, trained in Dorset at the stables of Robert Alner - who is recuperating after a terrible car crash in 2007 - to win, a little bit of history would be created. For it is almost 20 years since a horse achieved back-to-back wins in the Coral Welsh National.

Richard Holland, the new General Manager of Chepstow Racecourse, said: "Coral Welsh National day is an occasion when the sporting spotlight falls on Wales, and we are already looking forward to what is always a fantastically exciting jumps race. Advance tickets are selling well, and we're expecting a superb day on Saturday 27 December."

Order tickets in person at the racecourse or by phone on 01291 622260, or online at http://www.chepstow-racecourse.co.uk">www.chepstow-racecourse.co.uk.