He had to give up his other three rides at the Esher track, including that on King George VI Chase runner-up Monkerhostin, but managed to drive himself home.

He will reassess his condition in the morning before determining whether he can partner One Knight, the 5-1 market leader with totesport.

One Knight’s trainer Philip Hobbs said: “He’s left the course obviously sore. He was unable to continue riding today.

“I really don’t know if he will be riding tomorrow. We’ll sort it out in the morning.”

Hobbs is hopeful of a good show from One Knight, who is unbeaten in four races at Chepstow but unraced through injury sine winning the Rehearsal Chase over 12 months and restricted to just two runs in the past two seasons.

“He’s always run his better races there (Chepstow) so hopefully he’ll run very well again,” said Hobbs.

“He’s always run well fresh so hopefully the two things together will help his cause.”

A field of 18 was declared for the Chepstow marathon, headed by the top-weight Cornish Rebel.

The full-brother to triple Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Best Mate will carry the steadier of 11st 12lb after the weights went up 2lb following the expected defection of his stablemate Royal Auclair, who ran instead in the Stan James King George VI Chase at Sandown.

Cornish Rebel made a pleasing seasonal debut when third to Trabolgan in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury a month ago and heads a three-strong Nicholls team.

The Ditcheat trainer also saddles Heros Collonges and L’Aventure as he bids for back-to-back victories following the success of Silver Birch 12 months ago.

On his latest start Heros Collonges was sixth to Garvivonnian in the Becher Chase at Aintree last month, while L’Aventure was fourth in this race last year.

Martin Pipe is also triple-handed with Comply Or Die, Control Man and Present Bleu, with Jonjo O’Neill running Native Emperor and World Wide Web.

The Robert Alner-trained Sir Rembrandt, runner-up in 2003, will try to go one better, while Alan King’s Crystal d’Ainay runs in preference to the Long Walk Hurdle on the same card.

Other interesting runners include last year’s second Strong Resolve from Lucinda Russell’s Kinross stable, Peter Bowen’s McKelvey and the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained Shardam, who has been out of action since finishing unplaced in the Betfred Gold Cup at Sandown 20 months ago.

Coral Welsh National, totesport bet: 5-1 One Knight, 6-1 Cornish Rebel, World Wide Web, 8-1 McKelvey, 10-1 Comply Or Die, 12-1 Control Man, L’Aventure, Strong Resolve, 16-1 Crystal D’Ainay, Native Emperor, 18-1 Philson Run, 20-1 bar.