CHEPSTOW
The Rehearsal Chase began at Chepstow on 17 November 1979, a three mile event with the aim of attracting horses of Gold Cup standard. Midnight Court, Gay Spartan, Border Incident and Silver Buck were among the entries. What a race that would have been! Unfortunately none of them were declared and it turned out to be a walkover for one of the lesser lights, Chumson. It proved more successful in the 1980s when Gold Cup calibre horses did run in it.
Perhaps, in hindsight, it seemed odd to call something a rehearsal when the main event was four months in the future. Towards the end of that decade the race was extended to 3m6f and run on the first weekend of December, which made it a genuine rehearsal for the Welsh Grand National at the end of the month. And so it proved; the winner in 1989 was Bonanza Boy, who went on to win the next two Welsh Nationals.
The Rehearsal Chase moved to Newcastle in 2005 as the courses’ owners, Northern Racing, wanted to boost that course’s programme. Chepstow’s not-Rehearsal Chase is now back to three miles, and basks in the more sensible name of the Welsh Grand National Trial. Its 2020, 2021 and 2023 winners went on to win the Welsh National itself.
NEWCASTLE
Since the Rehearsal Chase’s transfer to Newcastle some good class staying handicappers have won it. The future Grand National winner Neptune Collonges won it as a five-year-old in 2006. One of its best winners was L’Homme Presse in 2022, whose top-weight victory propelled him close to the very highest class.