Ffos Las admits National ambition

Ffos Los has resurrected the Welsh Champion Hurdle

Ffos Las Racecourse admits it harbours ambitions to one day stage the Welsh National.

Chepstow Racecourse has hosted the race almost entirely since 1948 but Ffos Las, the UK's newest racecourse, has not discounted a bid for it.

Asked if the Welsh National would boost Ffos Las clerk of the course Tim Long said: "Yes absolutely.

"But one step at a time. In the immediate future we are looking forward to the Welsh Champions Hurdle."

Added Long: "As a racecourse we have plenty of ambition to keep the standard as high as we can."

But Chepstow are confident that when their current three-year staging agreement with the BBC and Coral runs out in 2011 that it will be renewed.

"You never say never, but we have a solid contract with the BBC and Coral and we believe Chepstow is the rightful home of the Welsh National," said Chepstow general manager Richard Holland.

"We are committed to a long future staging the National and we can't see that situation changing."

Ffos Las hosts the Welsh Champion Hurdle on Saturday, 5 February, rearranged after it was frozen off in December, 2010.