SPRING-HEELED Strong Resolve (1.55) has all of the attributes required to win today's Welsh Grand National at Chepstow.

The 22 fences in the near four-mile slog take some serious jumping, but it is precisely in that department where I believe Lucinda Russell's powerhouse will pick up many lengths on his rivals.

When recording his latest success at Wetherby, Strong Resolve pulverised a decent field with a superb front-running exhibition, dotted throughout with some spectacular leaps over the demanding fences.

Chepstow also suits bold jumping pace-setting types, so provided connections opt for similar tactics, with luck the Scottish-trained grey gelding will be bang in the firing line from the moment the tapes fly up and stay there for the remainder of the contest.

In the preceding Grade 1 Juvenile Hurdle, Woody Valentine (1.20) could surprise one or two more highly-regarded rivals in the £50,000 two-miler.

Woody Valentine never gave less than 110 per cent when trained on the flat by Mark Johnston, a quality he has transferred to the jumping arena judged by his gritty debut victory over the sticks at Warwick.

Coat Of Honour's win at Kempton on Sunday gave Humid Climate (12.15) a significant boost in his quest to take the opener at Catterick.

Richard Fahey's representative was not beaten that far when finishing third to Coat Of Honour at Musselburgh last time out, a performance which inevitably must make him a leading contender for the £5,000 event.

Midlem Melody (1.45) has been a good friend to this column for the past 18 months, time and again rewarding followers by either winning, or at the very least making the frame at a profitable each-way starting price.

Willliam Coltherd's mare ran her usual game race when third at the track this month over two-miles, a trip which is on the short side for the consistent eight-year-old nowadays.

Thankfully that minor glitch in strategy planning has been addressed and Midlem Melody has an extra three furlongs to travel in the Zetland Handicap Chase. She gets nod over Keith Reveley's Celtic Legend.

Venetia Williams heads for Leicester, where a double beckons for the yard via Banker Count (2.35) and de Blanc (3.40).

Banker Count's reputation as being something of a professional loser might easily stem from having a minor physical problem, rather than a lack of will to win.

Even so, punters are entitled to be cautious when it comes to putting their hard-earned cash on the gelding, but having scrutinised his last couple of more encouraging efforts, I'm convinced he's capable of making a bold show in the Leicester Silver Fox Handicap Chase.

For the closing ladbrokes.com Handicap Hurdle, de Blanc is sure to be a warm order with the bookmakers after a brace of mightily impressive triumphs at Ludlow and Exeter.

De Blanc romped to a bloodless 12-length victory off a mark of 107 at Exeter.

In response the Official Handicapper has been less than kind by allotting the daughter of Revoque a revised rating of 125, a hike which seems a trifle harsh.

Such severe penalties are always a hammer blow, but she's a hugely progressive filly who is still in with fair prospects of completing the hat-trick, despite that sharp rise in the weights.

Although Tee Jay Cassidy has a chance of completing a five-timer at Southwell, there's a distinct possibility that his bid could be thwarted by Ellen Mooney (12.05).

Ellen Mooney, successful over course and distance when in the care of Bryan Smart, was subsequently moved by her owners to Bobby Elliott's stable.

Bobby couldn't make any further headway with the mare and she's since been transferred to the Geraldine Rees stable.

Tee Jay Cassidy had Ellen Mooney well back in fourth spot when the pair clashed 12 days ago, but a double penalty means the former is now 14lb worse off, a drastic turnaround which may well allow Ellen Mooney to exact sweet revenge