Coral Welsh Grand National
Premier Handicap race
LocationChepstow Racecourse
Chepstow, Wales
Inaugurated1895
Race typeChase
SponsorCoral
WebsiteChepstow
Race information
Distance3m 6½f (6,154 metres)
SurfaceTurf
TrackLeft-handed
QualificationFour-years-old and up
WeightHandicap
Purse£150,000 (2019)
1st: £85,425
Welsh Grand National
2023
White, dark green hoops, white sleeves and cap Emerald green and yellow (quartered), white sleeves and cap Black, emerald green triple diamond, diamonds on sleeves, black cap, emerald green diamond
Nassalam Iron Bridge Iwilldoit
Previous years
2022
Maroon, beige star, diabolo on sleeves and star on cap Red, yellow triple diamond, white sleeves, red armlets White, red star, red sleeves, white armlets, quartered cap
The Two Amigos The Big Breakaway The Big Dog
2021
Black, emerald green triple diamond, diamonds on sleeves, black cap, emerald green diamond Light blue, royal blue hoop, armlets and cap Emerald green, royal blue spots, halved sleeves, emerald green cap
Iwilldoit Highland Hunter Truckers Lodge
2020-2011
2020
Royal blue, pink hoop Maroon, beige star, diabolo on sleeves and star on cap Yellow, royal blue spots
Secret Reprieve The Two Amigos Yala Enki
2019
Red, white epaulets, dark blue and white hooped sleeves, yellow and dark blue quartered cap Emerald green, royal blue spots, halved sleeves, emerald green cap Yellow, royal blue spots
Potters Corner Truckers Lodge Yala Enki
2018
Black, yellow triple diamond, diabolo on sleeves and diamond on cap Maroon and yellow diamonds, halved sleeves, yellow cap Yellow, royal blue spots
Elegant Escape Ramses De Teillee Yala Enki
2017
Royal blue, white cross of lorraine, royal blue cap, white star White and black stripes, royal blue sleeves, white cap Pink, royal blue epaulets, royal blue cap
Raz De Maree Alfie Spinner Final Nudge
2016
Red and purple (quartered), yellow sleeves, red cap Royal blue, white cross of lorraine, royal blue cap, white star Red, dark blue disc, halved sleeves
Native River Raz De Maree Houblon Des Obeaux
2015
Yellow, purple cap Black, white hoop, black sleeves, white stars Dark blue, white sleeves, dark blue diamonds and cap
Mountainous Firebird Flyer Shotgun Paddy
2014
Royal blue, white hoop and sleeves Dark green, red seams, hooped sleeves, quartered cap Emerald green, purple star, diabolo on sleeves and star on cap
Emperor's Choice Benvolio Glenquest
2013
White, red braces, emerald green and white check sleeves, white cap, red star Red, white cross belts, hooped sleeves and star on cap Black and beige (halved), chevrons on sleeves, beige cap
Mountainous Hawkes Point Tidal Bay
2012
Red, white stripe, white and red diabolo on sleeves Dark blue and white stripes, halved sleeves Pink and yellow diamonds, yellow sleeves and cap
Monbeg Dude Teaforthree Triggerman
2011
Yellow, purple spots on sleeves, purple cap Yellow, dark green stripe and armlets, dark green and yellow quartered cap Royal blue, pink hoop
Le Beau Bai Giles Cross Cappa Bleu
2011
Emerald green, yellow hoops, white cap Yellow, dark green stripe and armlets, dark green and yellow quartered cap Red, yellow sash, royal blue sleeves and cap
Synchronised Giles Cross I'moncloudnine
2010-2001
2009
Grey, maroon epaulets and armlets, hooped cap Yellow, black chevrons, yellow sleeves, hooped cap Yellow, purple spots on sleeves, purple cap
Dream Alliance Silver By Nature Le Beau Bai
2008
Pink, white hoop, royal blue cap Dark green, white hoop, checked sleeves, quartered cap Emerald green, red star, white sleeves, red stars, red cap
Notre Pere Cornish Sett Halcon Genelardais
2007
Emerald green and maroon (halved), sleeves reversed, emerald green and maroon quartered cap Emerald Green, Red star, White sleeves, Red stars, Red cap Royal blue, emerald green sleeves, white cap, emerald green spots
Miko de Beauchene Halcon Genelardais Over The Creek
2006
Emerald Green, Red star, White sleeves, Red stars, Red cap Emerald green, purple armlets Emerald green and yellow quartered, white sleeves and cap
Halcon Genelardais Mon Mome Juveigneur
2005
Red and yellow diamonds, white cap YELLOW, Red star, Yellow sleeves and White armlet, Yellow cap and Red star Red, white cross belts, hooped sleeves and star on cap
L'aventure Heros Collonges Cornish Rebel
2004
Yellow, light blue hoop Dark blue, light blue stars Emerald green and yellow quartered, white sleeves and cap
Silver Birch Strong Resolve Chives
2003
Emerald green, white stars, emerald green cap, white star Yellow, red stars, red sleeves, yellow stars, yellow cap, red star Emerald green and yellow quartered, white sleeves and cap
Bindaree Sir Rembrandt Hedgehunter
2002
Emerald green and yellow hoops, white cap Emerald green and yellow quartered, white sleeves and cap Dark blue, light blue cap
Mini Sensation Chives Gunner Welburn
2001
Royal blue, dark blue chevrons on body, white cap Black and pink diabolo, pink sleeves, quartered cap Emerald green, white stars, emerald green cap, white star
Supreme Glory Jocks Cross Bindaree
2000-1991
2000
Black and pink diabolo, pink sleeves, quartered cap Mauve, purple seams, striped sleeves and star on cap Black, Orange sleeves, Red cap
Jocks Cross Moral Support Edmond
1999
Black, Orange sleeves, Red cap Dark Blue and Yellow stripes, White sleeves and cap Yellow, Brown disc, striped sleeves, hooped cap
Edmond Forest Ivory Earthmover
1998
Pink, Black chevron and armlets, quartered cap Black, red sash, quartered cap Dark Blue and Yellow stripes, White sleeves and cap
Kendal Cavalier Fiddling The Facts Forest Ivory
1997
Black, yellow seams, yellow sleeves, quartered cap Emerald green, scarlet hooped sleeves and cap Black yellow stars, red sleeves, yellow stars on cap
Earth Summit Dom Samourai Samlee
1994
Black, yellow chevron, hooped sleeves, black cap Black, yellow seams, yellow sleeves, quartered cap Pink, purple cross belts, hooped sleeves, purple cap
Master Oats Earth Summit Party Politics
1993
Light blue, brown epaulets, sleeves and cap Dark blue and pink (quartered), blue sleeves, blue cap, pink spots Dark blue, yellow star and sleeves, yellow star on cap
Riverside Boy Fiddlers Pike Cool Ground
1992
Maroon, yellow epaulets, armlets and star on cap Light blue, brown epaulets, sleeves and cap Red, yellow star, yellow sleeves, yellow cap, red star
Run For Free Riverside Boy Miinnehoma
1991
Light blue, dark blue diamond and diamond on cap Claret, eton blue spots on body, blue cap Emerald green, scarlet hooped sleeves and cap
Carvill's Hill Party Politics Aquilifer
1990-1987
1990
Dark blue, yellow star and sleeves, yellow star on cap Maroon, gold sash and cap with maroon spots White, black diamond, black and white striped sleeves, white cap, black diamond
Cool Ground Carrick Hill Lad Rowlandsons Jewels
1989
Pink, white stars, pink sleeves, purple armlets, pink cap, white star Dark blue, yellow star and sleeves, yellow star on cap Blue, white stars, white cap
Bonanza Boy Cool Ground Charter Hardware
1988
Pink, white stars, pink sleeves, purple armlets, pink cap, white star Yellow, emerald green braces, yellow sleeves, green armlets, hooped cap Green, white star, orange sleeves and cap
Bonanza Boy Run And Skip The Thinker
1987
Light blue and rust (quartered), rust collar and sleeves, yellow cap Pink, Purple stars, Pink sleeves, Purple cap, Pink star Royal blue, black braces, striped sleeves
Playschool Rhyme 'N' Reason Midnight Madness
 

The Coral Welsh Grand National is a Premier Handicap National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Chepstow, Wales, over a distance of about 3 miles and 6½ furlongs (3 miles 6 furlongs and 130 yards, or 6,154 metres), and during its running there are twenty-three fences to be jumped. It is a handicap race, and it is scheduled to take place each year on 27 December.

The race was first run in 1895, and it originally took place at Ely Racecourse in Cardiff. It remained at this venue until the closure of the course in 1939. After World War II it was transferred to Newport Racecourse in 1948, and it was then moved to its present venue in 1949. Dick Francis, the famous jockey turned author, rode the first Chepstow winner of the race, Fighting Line. David Nicholson, later a successful racehorse trainer, rode three successive Welsh National winners in 1959, 1960 and 1961.

Originally run on Easter Tuesday, it was moved to February in 1969 with the aim of attracting better horses, albeit with the increased risk of bad weather forcing its cancellation. It has been sponsored by bookmakers Coral from 1973 and is now the longest running sponsorship in jump racing. The race was given Grade 3 status when the National Hunt Pattern was revised in 1989 and was re-classified as a Premier Handicap from the 2022 running when Grade 3 status was renamed by the British Horseracing Authority.[1]

It was moved to late December in 1979, after that year's original fixture was abandoned due to snow. The meeting is now held the day after Boxing Day and since then the class of runners has improved further, making it an informative guide to future races such as the Grand National and the Cheltenham Gold Cup. The race distance was extended from 3 miles 5 furlongs and 110 yards to its present distance in 2019, to allow a longer run to the first bend; this also meant that field now jumps 23 fences rather than the previous 22.[2]

Among the winners were Burrough Hill Lad in 1983, who went on to land the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup less than three months later. Trainer Jenny Pitman had the previous season saddled Corbière to win the Welsh and Aintree Nationals. In the late 80s and early 90s, the race was dominated by Somerset trainer Martin Pipe. Bonanza Boy achieved consecutive successes in 1988 and 1989, and in 1991 the giant Carvill's Hill became one of the easiest winners in the history of the race.[3][4]

More recent winners of both the Welsh and the Aintree Grand National are Bindaree and Silver Birch. The 2010 winner, Synchronised, went on to win the 2012 Cheltenham Gold Cup. The 2016 winner Native River, ridden by champion jockey Richard Johnson, went on to win the 2018 Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Winners since 1948

Year
 Winner
 Age
 Weight
 Jockey
 Trainer
1948 Bora's Cottage 10 10-02 Eddie Reavey Ryan Price
1949 Fighting Line 10 10-09 Dick Francis Ken Cundell
1950 Gallery 12 10-08 Alf Mullins William "Rip" Bissill
1951 Skyreholme 8 10-13 Arthur Thompson Neville Crump
1952 Dinton Lass 10 10-00 Alf Mullins J Roberts
1953 Stalbridge Rock 10 11-03 Bob McCreery Harry Dufosee
1954 Blow Horn 10 10-06 John Hunter T Jarvis
1955 Monaleen 10 09-07 Paddy Fitzgerald H T Smith
1956 Crudwell 10 11-06 Dick Francis Frank Cundell
1957 Creeola II 9 10-05 Michael Scudamore Fred Rimell
1958 Oscar Wilde 8 09-13 Brian Lawrence Bill Wightman
1959 Limonali 8 10-02 David Nicholson Edward Morel
1960 Clover Bud 10 10-10 David Nicholson G Llewellin
1961 Limonali 10 11-12 David Nicholson I Lewis
1962 Forty Secrets 8 10-11 Josh Gifford Earl Jones
1963 Motel 9 10-06 Paddy Cowley W Lowe
1964 Rainbow Battle 8 10-00 Paddy Broderick Arthur Stephenson
1965 Norther 8 11-00 Terry Biddlecombe D Jenkins
1966 Kilburn 8 11-02 Tim Norman Chris Nesfield
1967 Happy Spring 11 10-04 Ken White Stan Wright
1968 Glenn 7 10-04 Eddie Harty Fred Rimell
1969 Abandoned because of snow
1970 French Excuse 8 10-09 Terry Biddlecombe Fred Rimell
1971 Royal Toss 9 10-12 Paddy Cowley Tim Handel
1972 Charlie H 10 11-03 Johnny Haine Bob Turnell
1973 Deblin's Green 10 09-12 Nigel Wakley George Yardley
1974 Pattered 8 10-02 Ken White Earl Jones
1975Abandoned because of waterlogged state of course
1976 Rag Trade 10 11-02 John Burke Fred Rimell
1977Abandoned because of waterlogged state of course
1978 Abandoned because of frost
1979 Peter Scot 8 10-02 Paul Barton David Gandolfo
1980 Narvik 7 10-11 John Francome Neville Crump
1981 Peaty Sandy 7 10-03 Geordie Dun[a] Helen Hamilton
1982 Corbiere 7 10-10 Ben de Haan Jenny Pitman
1983 Burrough Hill Lad 7 10-09 John Francome Jenny Pitman
1984 Righthand Man 7 11-05 Graham Bradley Monica Dickinson
1985 Run and Skip 7 10-08 Peter Scudamore John Spearing
1986 Stearsby 7 11-05 Graham Bradley Jenny Pitman
1987 Playschool 10 10-11 Paul Nicholls David Barons
1988 Bonanza Boy 7 10-01 Peter Scudamore Martin Pipe
1989 Bonanza Boy 8 11-11 Peter Scudamore Martin Pipe
1990 Cool Ground 8 10-00 Luke Harvey Reg Akehurst
1991 Carvill's Hill 9 11-12 Peter Scudamore Martin Pipe
1992 Run for Free 8 10-09 Mark Perrett Martin Pipe
1993 Riverside Boy 10 10-00 Richard Dunwoody Martin Pipe
1994 Master Oats[b] 8 11-06 Norman Williamson Kim Bailey
1995Abandoned because of frost
1996Abandoned because of frost
1997 Earth Summit 9 10-13 Tom Jenks Nigel Twiston-Davies
1998 Kendal Cavalier 8 10-00 Barry Fenton Nigel Hawke
1999 Edmond 7 10-00 Richard Johnson Henry Daly
2000 Jocks Cross 9 10-04 Brian Crowley Venetia Williams
2001 Supreme Glory 8 10-00 Leighton Aspell Pat Murphy
2002 Mini Sensation 9 10-04 Tony Dobbin Jonjo O'Neill
2003 Bindaree 9 10-09 Carl Llewellyn Nigel Twiston-Davies
2004 Silver Birch 7 10-05 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls
2005 L'Aventure 6 10-04 Leighton Aspell Paul Nicholls
2006 Halcon Genelardais 6 11-03 Wayne Hutchinson Alan King
2007 Miko de Beauchene 7 10-05 Andrew Thornton Robert Alner
2008 Notre Pere 7 11-00 Andrew Lynch Jim Dreaper
2009 Dream Alliance 8 10-08 Tom O'Brien Philip Hobbs
2010 Synchronised[c] 8 11-06 Tony McCoy Jonjo O'Neill
2011 Le Beau Bai[5] 8 10-01 Charlie Poste Richard Lee
2012[d] Monbeg Dude 8 10-01 Paul Carberry Michael Scudamore
2013 Mountainous 8 10-00 Paul Moloney Richard Lee
2014 Emperor's Choice 7 10-08 Aidan Coleman Venetia Williams
2015[e] Mountainous 11 10-06 Jamie Moore Kerry Lee
2016 Native River 6 11-12 Richard Johnson Colin Tizzard
2017[f] Raz De Maree 13 10-10 James Bowen Gavin Cromwell
2018 Elegant Escape 6 11-08 Tom O'Brien Colin Tizzard
2019 Potters Corner 9 10-04 Jack Tudor Christian Williams
2020 Secret Reprieve[g] 7 10-01 Adam Wedge Evan Williams
2021 Iwilldoit 8 10-00 Stan Sheppard Sam Thomas
2022 The Two Amigos 10 10-01 David Prichard Nicky Martin
2023 Nassalam 6 11-03 Caoilin Quinn Gary Moore
  1. ^ amateur jockey
  2. ^ The 1994 running took place at Newbury
  3. ^ The "2010" running took place in January 2011 after the original fixture was postponed because of snow and frost
  4. ^ The "2012" running took place in January 2013 after the original fixture was postponed because of waterlogging
  5. ^ The "2015" running took place in January 2016 after the original fixture was postponed because of waterlogging
  6. ^ The "2017" running took place in January 2018 after the original fixture was postponed because of waterlogging
  7. ^ The "2020" running took place in January 2021 after the original fixture was postponed because of waterlogging

See also

References

  1. ^ "Jump Pattern Committee update 22/23 season". British Horseracing Authority. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  2. ^ "Amendments To Coral Welsh Grand National Distance". Arena Racing Company. 2 November 2019.
  3. ^ Lee, Brian. 2002. The Welsh Grand National. ISBN 0-7524-2728-8
  4. ^ Chepstow racecourse website
  5. ^ "Le Beau Bai lands Welsh National victory at Chepstow". BBC Sport. 27 December 2011. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
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