Chepstow
Flat
Piercefield, Monmouthshire · the Wye Valley course beside the Welsh Grand National
Turf
Left-Handed
Undulating
Course Overview
Track Character
Chepstow sits in the Wye Valley on the old Piercefield House estate, its left-handed round course running to just under two miles. Despite that size it isn’t a true galloping, speed-favouring track — pronounced undulations run throughout, giving the view from the winning post a look several sources compare to “the ocean with large waves and swells.” All races up to a mile use a separate straight course instead of the full circuit, and that straight is predominantly downhill, falling nearly 50 metres over its length before a couple of further undulations toward the line.
The track opened on 6 August 1926, built by a syndicate of ten South Wales gentry and businessmen including Courtenay Morgan, 1st Viscount Tredegar. It was requisitioned as RAF Chepstow during the Second World War, and today is owned and run by Arena Racing Company. Chepstow’s Flat and jumps courses share a footprint but aren’t identical: the jumps course sits inside the Flat circuit, giving it tighter, sharper bends than the wider, gentler turns used on the Flat.
Course Facts
- Configuration Left-handed oval of just under two miles; undulating throughout rather than a flat gallop, despite the size
- Straight course Used for all races up to a mile; predominantly downhill with a fall of nearly 50 metres, plus further undulations toward the finish
- Jumps overlay The National Hunt course sits inside the Flat circuit, with tighter, sharper bends than the wider Flat turns — the key structural difference between the two codes here
- Going extremes Genuinely fast on quick ground; soft or heavy conditions spread fields out dramatically, giving Chepstow a “mudlark’s track” reputation in winter
- Historic trivia Champion jockey Gordon Richards won 11 consecutive races at a single two-day Chepstow meeting in 1933
The Round Course
- Draw bias A small but consistent advantage to high stalls (closest to the stands rail) across sprint and middle distances, strongest on quicker ground
- Pace No quantified front-runner/hold-up data was found specifically for the Flat course; the undulations are generally thought to work against out-and-out gallopers
The Straight Course
- Up to a mile Every race up to a mile is run on a separate straight course, not the round circuit
- Downhill It falls nearly 50 metres over its length, so horses can be in a full drive a long way out
- Draw A high-draw lean, clearest around seven furlongs
Calendar & Notable Races
- Golden Daffodil Stakes Chepstow’s one Group-level Flat race historically — Listed 1994-2002, upgraded to Group 3 2003-05, then discontinued. At the time it was reportedly the only Group race staged in Wales
- Current status No Listed or Group Flat race is currently run at Chepstow — the Flat programme today is built from handicaps and conditions races
- Welsh Grand National weekend Chepstow’s Flat programme sits alongside its far more famous December jumps identity — see the National Hunt guide for the Coral Welsh Grand National
A Chepstow Flat Landmark
Chepstow’s most celebrated Flat moment belongs to Sir Gordon Richards. In October 1933 the record-breaking champion reeled off a world-record 12 consecutive winners — 11 of them here, when he won all six races on 4 October and the first five the following day — on his way to a then-record 259-winner season. The unbroken run stood as a world record for 68 years.
Modern Chepstow offers no Group or Listed Flat race, so the card is built from competitive handicaps and conditions events. What the fixtures lack in grade they make up in character: the big, undulating circuit and long downhill straight pose questions of stamina and tactics that regularly catch out horses whose form was built on flatter, sharper tracks.
Draw Bias by Distance
Strong bias — material handicapping factor
Moderate lean — worth noting
Broadly fair — not a primary factor
Source: drawbias.com stall analysis. Pattern: a small but consistent high-draw (stands-rail) advantage across sprint and middle distances, most pronounced at 7f in larger fields and on quicker going.
Top Trainers & Jockeys
| Trainer | Runs | Wins | Win% | Places | Place% | A/E | P/L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Oshea, J G M | 157 | 21 | 13.38% | 41 | 26.11% | 1.00 | -24.87 |
| 2 Evans, P D | 114 | 17 | 14.91% | 43 | 37.72% | 1.06 | +13.75 |
| 3 Watson, Archie | 64 | 17 | 26.56% | 28 | 43.75% | 1.38 | +28.74 |
| 4 Mason, Christopher | 91 | 16 | 17.58% | 36 | 39.56% | 1.25 | -7.65 |
| 5 Millman, B R | 107 | 15 | 14.02% | 47 | 43.93% | 0.78 | -14.17 |
| 6 Carroll, A W | 186 | 14 | 7.53% | 48 | 25.81% | 0.70 | -36.00 |
| 7 Wintle, A | 129 | 14 | 10.85% | 36 | 27.91% | 0.88 | +9.25 |
| 8 Harris, Miss G | 165 | 12 | 7.27% | 51 | 30.91% | 0.57 | -104.96 |
| 9 Flint, J L | 66 | 12 | 18.18% | 20 | 30.30% | 1.43 | +64.83 |
| 10 Houghton, Eve Johnson | 64 | 10 | 15.63% | 18 | 28.13% | 0.87 | +9.79 |
| 11 Balding, A M | 48 | 10 | 20.83% | 22 | 45.83% | 0.93 | -4.51 |
| 12 Saunders, M S | 71 | 9 | 12.68% | 28 | 39.44% | 0.81 | -12.50 |
| 13 Osborne, J A | 34 | 9 | 26.47% | 15 | 44.12% | 1.86 | +10.25 |
| 14 Faulkner, Ms D C | 57 | 8 | 14.04% | 19 | 33.33% | 1.14 | +22.79 |
| 15 OMeara, D | 24 | 8 | 33.33% | 13 | 54.17% | 1.15 | +2.46 |
| 16 Channon, Jack | 35 | 7 | 20.00% | 13 | 37.14% | 1.28 | +9.18 |
| 17 Beckett, R M | 31 | 7 | 22.58% | 13 | 41.94% | 0.90 | -7.89 |
| 18 Haggas, W J | 30 | 7 | 23.33% | 15 | 50.00% | 0.85 | -13.94 |
| 19 Boughey, George | 26 | 7 | 26.92% | 14 | 53.85% | 1.09 | -2.36 |
| 20 Dunn, Mrs Alex | 33 | 6 | 18.18% | 10 | 30.30% | 1.86 | +16.33 |
| Jockey | Runs | Wins | Win% | Places | Place% | A/E | P/L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Doyle, Hollie | 94 | 27 | 28.72% | 41 | 43.62% | 1.24 | +20.93 |
| 2 Mangan, Gina | 162 | 25 | 15.43% | 53 | 32.72% | 1.18 | -1.90 |
| 3 Osborne, Saffie | 70 | 15 | 21.43% | 31 | 44.29% | 1.20 | -5.81 |
| 4 Hutchinson, Callum | 97 | 13 | 13.40% | 29 | 29.90% | 1.03 | +2.96 |
| 5 Whelan, Trevor | 117 | 12 | 10.26% | 31 | 26.50% | 0.88 | -49.47 |
| 6 Probert, David | 114 | 12 | 10.53% | 30 | 26.32% | 0.68 | -58.24 |
| 7 Cox, William | 111 | 12 | 10.81% | 33 | 29.73% | 1.18 | +13.46 |
| 8 Marsh, Finley | 88 | 12 | 13.64% | 32 | 36.36% | 0.87 | +7.76 |
| 9 Bishop, Charles | 80 | 12 | 15.00% | 28 | 35.00% | 1.01 | -2.99 |
| 10 Dawson, R | 57 | 12 | 21.05% | 23 | 40.35% | 1.31 | +57.13 |
| 11 Dobie, Georgia | 76 | 10 | 13.16% | 20 | 26.32% | 1.31 | +56.00 |
| 12 Crouch, Hector | 44 | 10 | 22.73% | 14 | 31.82% | 1.18 | +32.41 |
| 13 Carson, William | 95 | 9 | 9.47% | 21 | 22.11% | 0.94 | -35.50 |
| 14 Ryan, Rossa | 55 | 9 | 16.36% | 21 | 38.18% | 0.83 | -19.82 |
| 15 Loughnane, Mr Billy | 48 | 9 | 18.75% | 17 | 35.42% | 0.96 | +1.98 |
| 16 Morris, Luke | 68 | 8 | 11.76% | 18 | 26.47% | 0.90 | -26.87 |
| 17 Phillips, Mollie | 66 | 8 | 12.12% | 22 | 33.33% | 0.96 | +11.50 |
| 18 Fisher, Taylor | 49 | 8 | 16.33% | 17 | 34.69% | 1.04 | -5.79 |
| 19 Coakley, Ross | 48 | 8 | 16.67% | 20 | 41.67% | 0.98 | +29.00 |
| 20 Kingscote, Richard | 42 | 8 | 19.05% | 18 | 42.86% | 0.79 | -18.80 |
Top Sires
| Sire | Runs | Wins | Win% | Places | Place% | A/E | P/L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Dark Angel (IRE) | 75 | 17 | 22.67% | 30 | 40.00% | 1.54 | +41.93 |
| 2 Adaay (IRE) | 78 | 12 | 15.38% | 31 | 39.74% | 0.85 | -28.05 |
| 3 Cable Bay (IRE) | 57 | 11 | 19.30% | 22 | 38.60% | 1.15 | -12.28 |
| 4 Coulsty (IRE) | 40 | 11 | 27.50% | 17 | 42.50% | 1.60 | +36.18 |
| 5 Havana Gold (IRE) | 79 | 10 | 12.66% | 22 | 27.85% | 1.05 | +28.29 |
| 6 Dandy Man (IRE) | 99 | 8 | 8.08% | 19 | 19.19% | 0.58 | -42.71 |
| 7 Kodiac | 95 | 8 | 8.42% | 24 | 25.26% | 0.72 | +12.00 |
| 8 Heeraat (IRE) | 44 | 8 | 18.18% | 13 | 29.55% | 1.32 | -5.37 |
| 9 Lethal Force (IRE) | 39 | 8 | 20.51% | 12 | 30.77% | 1.38 | +40.38 |
| 10 Dream Ahead (USA) | 38 | 8 | 21.05% | 16 | 42.11% | 1.26 | -0.58 |
| 11 Showcasing | 60 | 7 | 11.67% | 15 | 25.00% | 0.88 | +10.80 |
| 12 Mayson | 52 | 7 | 13.46% | 17 | 32.69% | 1.07 | +11.63 |
| 13 Churchill (IRE) | 40 | 7 | 17.50% | 16 | 40.00% | 1.16 | +4.25 |
| 14 Aclaim (IRE) | 16 | 7 | 43.75% | 8 | 50.00% | 2.88 | +23.98 |
| 15 Twilight Son | 56 | 6 | 10.71% | 21 | 37.50% | 0.66 | -28.56 |
| 16 Equiano (FR) | 41 | 6 | 14.63% | 20 | 48.78% | 1.06 | +2.00 |
| 17 Sir Prancealot (IRE) | 34 | 6 | 17.65% | 14 | 41.18% | 1.24 | +12.00 |
| 18 Lope De Vega (IRE) | 29 | 6 | 20.69% | 11 | 37.93% | 1.03 | -1.20 |
| 19 Night Of Thunder (IRE) | 13 | 6 | 46.15% | 8 | 61.54% | 2.60 | +24.98 |
| 20 Due Diligence (USA) | 36 | 5 | 13.89% | 12 | 33.33% | 1.01 | -14.87 |
Betting Tips for Chepstow Flat Turf
The Undulations Ask a Real Stamina Question
Even sprint distances at Chepstow reward a horse that can handle the constant rise and fall — this isn’t a pure speed track despite its size.
Lean High at 7f Specifically
The clearest, most consistent draw bias on the round course — high stalls hold a genuine edge here, more pronounced than at any other distance.
Ground Extremes Matter More Than Usual
Chepstow rides genuinely fast on quick going and spreads fields out dramatically when soft — check the going report closely rather than relying on recent form alone.
Follow Hollie Doyle
The clearest profitable jockey angle at the track, with a level-stakes profit of +20.93 from 27 winners.
Don’t Look for a Current Group Race
The Golden Daffodil Stakes, Chepstow’s only Group-level Flat race, was discontinued after 2005. Today’s Flat programme is handicaps and conditions races only.
Remember the Straight Course Is Downhill
All races up to a mile use a separate, predominantly downhill straight — a genuinely different test from the undulating round course used at longer trips.
Archie Watson Is the Value Yard
Archie Watson is 17 from 64 here (27%) and beats the market comfortably at A/E 1.38 for a +28.74 level-stakes profit — the standout trainer angle on the page.
The Value Runs Deep in the Weighing Room
Beyond Hollie Doyle, Saffie Osborne (A/E 1.20) and Gina Mangan (A/E 1.18) also beat their market prices here — the riders’ room is where the Chepstow edge sits.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Assuming Chepstow is a fast, galloping speed track because of its size. The undulations make it a genuine stamina test even at sprint distances.
- Expecting a current Group or Listed Flat race. The Golden Daffodil Stakes ended in 2005 and nothing has replaced it.
- Applying jumps-course form or bends to the Flat course. The NH circuit sits inside the Flat track with noticeably tighter turns — the two are not interchangeable.
Chepstow Racecourse FAQs
Does Chepstow have a Group or Listed Flat race?
Is Chepstow a galloping track?
Is there a draw bias at Chepstow?
Who owns Chepstow Racecourse?
Nearby Tracks
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