MIDNIGHT Prayer holds significant claims in the Coral Welsh Grand National at Chepstow today on what could be a huge day for Alan King.

The nine-year-old stayer has a lovely-looking profile for a race like this, possessing stamina and class in equal measure.

King rightly has high hopes of a big run, and anticipates a much sharper Midnight Prayer than the one which reported for the Hennessy at Newbury in November.

Though he was far from disgraced in finishing ninth, it was obvious he needed the run on his first start since he was successful at Cheltenham in March.

Midnight Prayer defeated Shotgun Paddy by a neck on level terms in the four-miler at the Festival, but the latter has been the name on most punters' lips in the build-up to the Welsh National.

Shotgun Paddy must, however, carry top weight at Chepstow, while his return to action at Newbury last month was hardly sparkling.

There is not much between the alleged protagonists, but King's inmate offers a little more value for what the duo have actually achieved on a racecourse.

Midnight Prayer is also a deeply unexposed horse over fences - he has only been sighted six times within the chasing division - which is a prized commodity when assessing the Welsh National.

Stablemate Karezak is taken to fly the Barbury Castle flag in the coral.co.uk Future Champions Finale Juvenile Hurdle.

Despite having not won on his last two outings, the three-year-old gelding is already the highest-rated horse in this line-up.

It is not difficult to understand why, though, as a pleasing second behind Old Guard, to whom he was in concession of a lot of weight, at Newbury in November, was backed up by an even more encouraging effort at Cheltenham.

Karezak had to be content with the silver medal, but he showed plenty of fight after a mistake at the last to give the well-above-average Hargam, who was in receipt of 3lb, a real fright up the run-up.

Indeed, he might even have got closer to the winner had he not drifted left towards the far-side rail, which arguably cost him crucial momentum.

At this stage of his career, he looks well worth at a try in this sort of company.

King also has a fine chance of winning a big race at Kempton, with Balder Succes taken to shine in the williamhill.com Desert Orchid Chase.

The Grade One-winning novice chaser was a little disappointing in the Tingle Creek, when fourth to Dodging Bullets as the 7-2 joint-favourite, but the ground was very soft at Sandown which would not have helped the cause.

It is also interesting King felt Balder Succes was not suited by the Esher circuit, either.

In any case, the six-year-old is a far better horse than what was seen in the Tingle Creek.

It would be no surprise to see him get back on the straight and narrow at Kempton, where he won the Pendil in some style in February.

Three Kingdoms offers a little value in the other Grade Two on the card, williamhill.com Novices' Chase - or, rather, the Wayward Lad Novices' Chase in old money.

John Ferguson's five-year-old has excelled in two starts over fences, defeating the admired Thomas Crapper at Leicester before not being particularly extended at Newcastle.

Three Kingdoms hated the soft ground at Gosforth Park but still won relatively easily, which bodes especially well in Sunbury where the going should be less exacting.

In a race which appears to lack any genuine superstars, he could be the one to fill the void.

The consistent Upsilon Bleu, suitably inspired by a hurdling victory in France, looks a safe play in the William Hill Castleford Handicap Chase at Wetherby.

Toto Skyllachy can hit the back of the net stepping up to a mile for the Ladbrokes Handicap at Southwell, with Well Owd Mon a likely contender in the 32Red Casino Handicap at Wolverhampton.