AMBERLEIGH HOUSE (IRE) (1992) br g Buckskin - Chancy Gal (Al Sirat) - Won a NH flat race, a hurdle and 6 chases between 1997 & 2006. Originally trained in Ireland by Michael Hourigan where he was only a very average hurdler but showed better form over fences winning the Grade 2 Kinloch Brae Chase a Thurles in February 2000 and a Grade 3 handicap at the Punchestown Festival later that year. Seen that day by the legendary Ginger McCain who was convinced that the horse had potential to run well in the National. He persuaded John Halewood to purchase him and the horse was bought for £75,000. Things did not initially go to plan in the UK as the horse showed nothing in three starts and after a lacklustre performance at Haydock he came to his first National an unconsidered 150-1 outsider. He got no further than the first Canal when he was the first horse to be hampered by the riderless Paddys Return who ran down the fence and they set off a chain reaction that saw nine horses put out of the race. Jockey Warren Marston was knocked out of the saddle but later performed heroics when he assisted the stricken Jim Culloty who`s mount Village King had fallen on him.  He continued riderless before pulling up just before the water. The following season he returned to Aintree with Marston again in the saddle and starting at odds of 33-1 he won the Becher Chase by two lengths beating that years National brave runner up Smarty. A spell over hurdles at Haydock followed but with just one win from six starts in the UK the horse was only allotted nine stone six in the handicap for the 2002 National. That year saw a record one hundred and forty four entries and he needed a staggering thirty six above him to drop out to guarantee a run. His outspoken trainer was scathing that a horse with proven winning form over the unique fences could be forced to miss out on the big one and the following year Phil Smith did take into account the so called "Aintree  factor" when framing the weights. A year too late though as he narrowly missed the cut for the National and had to run over the inadequate distance of the Topham as consolation where he finished unplaced. After finishing a distant third to Ardent Scout in the Becher he rightfully took his place in the 2003 National. Ridden now by Graham Lee (making his National debut) the pair were going extremely well from the second Canal Turn but could not match the finishing speed of Montys Pass and was just caught in the closing stages by Supreme Glory to end up in third pace. The following autumn he was touched off by the shortest of short heads by Clan Royal in the most thrilling finish yet seen in a Becher Chase but he spectacularly turned the tables on him in the 2004 National. Held up early on he was still only a distant fourth by the final fence but events fell into place for him. The long time leader Hedgehunter fell, Lord Atterbury was exhausted and a tired Clan Royal (who's rider had lost his whip) veered onto the Mildmay course as they entered the Elbow. Ploughing a lone furrow on the outside Lee was able to catch his two exhausted rivals to record an emotional win for the man forever associated with the great race. This was a record equalling fourth win for McCain, a staggering twenty seven years after Red Rums third triumph. Whilst Amberliegh House remained in training for another two years age was catching up with him and in the 2005 National he finished tenth without ever troubling the leaders and in what was to be his final race at the age of fourteen he lined up in 2006 and was wisely not given to  hard a race. He was pulled up when out of contention at the twenty first. Amberleigh House did not run at Aintree until he was nine years old but in a five year period he ran in five Nationals, five Becher Chases and a Topham. He jumped a staggering two hundred and forty five National fences. A wonderful horse.

BARON WINDRUSH (1998) - b g Alderbrook - Dame Scarlet (Blakeney) - Won 2 hurdles and 5 chases between 2002 & 2009 the highlight of which was victory in the 2007 Midlands Grand National. The previous year he unseated at the third in the National and pulled up in the Scottish National (he did win Warwicks Classic Chase that year so it wasn`t all failure). Prone to making mistakes he never won again after Uttoxeter and his form tailed away thereafter. Last raced at Newbury in November 2009.

COLNEL RAYBURN (IRE) (1996) b g  Un Desperado - Super Boreen (Boreen) - Won a NH Flat race, 2 hurdles and 3 chases between 2001 & 2006. Very tall and dare I say it a rather ugly individual. Only raced twice in the UK and both times it was in the National and he pulled up both times at the twenty seventh fence. Only raced one more time after his 2006 attempt in a hurdle race at the Punchestown Festival.

CORNISH REBEL (IRE) (1997) br g Un Desperardo - Katdy (Millers Mate) - Won a NH flat race, 2 hurdles and 4 chases between 2003 & 2008. Won his sole NH Flat race and on his debut over hurdles and fences. Finished third behind Trabolgan in both the 2005 RSA Chase and the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup. In between he narrowly failed by the shortest of short heads to Joes Edge in the Scottish Grand National and in doing so foiled Ruby Walsh in his attempt to win Welsh, Midlands, Aintree, Irish and Scottish Nationals in one season. The following year he was outclassed in the Gold Cup and failed in the National when conditions were against him. Not so good thereafter although he managed a win at Cheltenham on New Years Day. He was a last minute withdrawal due to injury in 2007 and pulled up in the Scottish National. Last seen running unplaced in the 2008 Christies Foxhunters at the Festival.

FIRST GOLD (FR) (1993) b g Shafoun - Nuit D`Or II (Pot D`Or) - Won a hurdle and 10 chases between 1997 & 2006. Burst onto the UK scene in the 2000 King George VI Chase when he destroyed a top class field including the likes of Florida Pearl, Edredon Bleu, Beau and See More Business by eleven lengths. In doing so he provided Francois Doumen with his fifth and final victory in the mid season classic. Prior to that he had run eleven times on the bounce at Auteuil winning Frances two premier chases the Grand Steeplechase de Paris and the Prix La Haye Josselin (and in doing so prevented the legendary Al Capone from wining the race for the eighth consecutive time). As a result of this victory he was catapulted to favouritism for the Gold Cup despite a shock defeat in his next start at Newbury when he was beaten by up and coming novice Shotgun Willy. Sold to J P McManus after that Newbury defeat he remained with Doumen in France but only raced there two more times. With the abandonment of the Festival due to foot and mouth he had to settle for the Martell Cup which he won in a canter on bottomless ground (something he was used to coming from France). Despite his season ending in disappointment (when he unseated in the Gold Cup consolation at Sandown) he ended the year as Timeforms top rated chaser with a rating of 180 which makes him the top rated horse in these pages. Perhaps it is churlish to say it but his career was something of a disappointment after that trail blazing season as he only won two more times in twenty five starts. He was continuously campaigned in the highest class running in three more King Georges (fourth in 2001, third in 2003 and fifth in 2004), two Gold Cups (flopped in 2003 pulling up but ran a blinder in 2004 when he made most of the running before weakening two out to finish fifth). He did win the Heineken Gold Cup at the Punchestown festival during a brief purple patch in the spring of 2003 and he loved the Mildmay course where won a second Martell Cup in 2003. He also finished second in the race twice in 2004 and 2005. He was often entered for the National and was normally allotted top weight but always chose the Mildmay race. However at the end of his career connections opted for one attempt at the National. Way past his best having not won for three years he started at 100-1 but ran credibly on the first circuit being up with the leaders but he was struggling when he unseated at the Foinavan fence. It was to be his last race. In total he won £885,101 in win and place money. He enjoyed his retirement at his owners Martinstown stud dying in January 2011 of laminitis.

FOREST GUNNER (1994) ch g Gunner B - Gouly Duff (Party Mink) - Won 3 hurdles and 5 chases between 2001 & 2006. Lightly raced throughout his career (won a novice hurdle at Aintree in May 2001) and was already ten years old when he ran away with the 2004 Foxhunters in what was only his second hunter chase. Ridden that day by trainers wife Carrie Ford who had unbelievably given birth only ten weeks earlier. Following on with an effortless win in the Grand Sefton Chase (ridden that time by conditional jockey Peter Buchanon) and the Red Square Vodka Gold Cup at Haydock and he was all the rage for the National. Ford had stated that it was her intention to ride in the National and she even turned professional for the race. Understandably there was a great deal of publicity as Ford had a real chance of being the first female jockey to figure in a National finish and despite some good-natured "joshing" from loveable misogynist Ginger McCain the pair put up a credible display although they weakened in the closing stages to finish fifth having never looked like getting close to Hedgehunter. Ford retired immediately afterwards and Nina Carberry took the ride thereafter. Sadly his form deserted him the following season, he unseated early in the Becher Chase and finished a distant last of the nine finishers in the National itself. He raced one more time at Aintree when he came down at Bechers in the Becher Chase.

GARVIVONNIAN (IRE) (1995) b g Spanish Place - Garvivonnia (Belfalas) - Won 6 hurdles and 5 chases between 1999 & 2008. Only an average chaser in Ireland but did win 2003 Cork National (pulled up in 2005 Irish Grand National). Surprise 33-1 winner in a blanket finish of the 2005 Becher Chase. As a result was quietly fancied for the big one but seemed to hate it second time around and was struggling when he was pulled up before the water. It was surprising to see him return to Aintree but he lined up in the 2006 Becher Chase and he came down at Bechers. Showed nothing in hurdles and in points later in his career.

HAUT DE GAMME (FR) (1995) ch g  Morespeed - Chantaloinette (Royal Charter) - Won 4 hurdles and 7 chases between 1999 & 2007. Won eight times in his native France. Finished fourth over the cross country course at Cheltenham on his fourth start in the UK in November 2004. Had a pretty good Aintree record finishing second to Cregg House in the 2005 Topham and completed the course in two Becher Chases in 2005 and 2006. Not so good in the National itself. Carrying my each-way bet he fell at the twentieth when a beaten horse. Last raced at Ayr in May 2007.

HEROS COLLONGES (FR) (1995) b g Dom Alco - Carmen Collonges (Olmeto) - Won 5 chases between 2001 & 2008. Very useful novice chaser when trained by Guillaume Macaire in France winning three chases there and romped home by twenty seven lengths in a novice chase at Kempton in January 2002. That was considered to be one of the best performances by a novice chaser that season but a tendon injury picked up in training not only ruled him out of his intended target the RSA Chase but the next three years. Now with Paul Nicholls after a warm up spin over hurdles he landed a listed event at Wincanton. Ran well in the 2005 National but didn`t last home eventually finishing eighth and it was the same story in the Becher Chase later that year when looking like holding a winning chance he weakened in the closing stages. Unseating at the Chair in the 2006 National his form later deserted him and he was pulled up in his next five starts. (He was allocated bottom weight  in the handicap for the 2007 National  (not surprisingly he was eliminated). He last raced at Bangor in December 2008.

INCA TRAIL (IRE) (1996) br g Un Desperado - Katday (Millers Mate) - Full brother to triple Gold Cup winner Best Mate but not as good. Did win a NH flat race 2 hurdles and 6 chases between 2002 & 2006. Won his only start in Ireland. Described by Timeform as a "quirky individual" he still completed the Royal Artillery/Grand Military Gold Cup double in 2006 when trained by Paul Nicholls. Moved to Ginger McCain he put up a superb performance in the 2006 National to finish eighth having been prominent until fading two out. Later finished unplaced in the Betfred Gold Cup. Last raced in the Becher Chase of 2006 finishing fifth and sadly died later that season.

INNOX (FR) (1996) b g Lute Antique - Savane III (Quart de Vin) - Won 5 chases  between 2000 & 2008. Trained in France for most of his career but was a frequent visitor to the UK. Came to Aintree in 2005 on the back of two good wins in competitive handicaps at Cheltenham & Sandown and in the National itself was prominent on the second circuit before weakening to finish seventh. The following year he fell at the first and his career nosedived thereafter. Pulled up in a Welsh National he ended his racing days with Jonjo O`Neill running in novice hurdles at Bangor.

IRIS ROYAL (FR) (1996) b g Garde Royale - Tchela (La Naine Jaune) - Won 4 hurdles and 5 chases between 1999 & 2008. Hit a purple patch during 2003-04 winning two valuable handicaps, the First National Bank Gold Cup at Ascot and the Tripleprint Gold Cup at Cheltenham. Ended the season finishing second behind Royal Auclair in the Cathcart Chase at the Festival. Off the course for twenty months and was not the same horse on his return. 100-1 outsider for the 2006 National he pulled up after a circuit. Only reached the frame once in his next nine starts before retirement.

IT TAKES TIME (IRE) (1994) b g Montelimar - Dysart Lady (Kings Ride) - Won 2 NH Flat races, 7 hurdles and  2 chases between 1999 & 2007. Unbeaten in five novice hurdles and proved to be a very good staying hurdler finishing third in both the Stayers and Aintree Hurdles in 2002. Ultimately wasn`t as good over fences with just one major win to his credit, the Ascot Chase in 2005 (run that year at Lingfield). Held up in the 2005 National he stayed on to finish fourth but such waiting tactics did not serve him well the following year when he never really got into the race and he was pulled up in the closing stages. Finished fourth in the 2005 Becher Chase and pulled up in the 2006 Betfred Gold Cup at Sandown. Last raced at Market Rasen in September 2007.

IZNOGOOD (FR) (1996) b/br g Shafoun - Vancia (Top Dancer) - Won 2 hurdles and 2 chases between 2000 & 2007. Won the grade one Tolworth Hurdle on only his third start in the UK in 2001. For a horse who started at 200-1 in the Gold Cup and National of 2006 he was actually a good handicap chaser. Rarely won but finished second in the 2002 RSA Chase, fifth in the At Theraces Gold Cup in 2003, third in the Racing Post Chase, second in the Mildmay Of Flete Cup in 2004 and second in another Racing Post Chase in 2005. Fell in Topham Chase in 2004 and last raced at Newbury in March 2007. Raced twice in points without success.

JUST IN DEBT (IRE) (1996) b/br g Montelimar - No Doubt (Oats) - Won a hurdle and 3 chases between 2001 & 2008. Originally trained in Ireland where he won on his debut at Cork in November 2002 beating future National winner Hedgehunter by twelve lengths. Moved to the UK in 2004 and unseated at the twenty third in the National and then pulled up in the Scottish National two weeks later. Became something of an Aintree regular jumping one hundred and thirty nine fences successfully. He finished second in the 2004 Becher Chase behind Silver Birch and was only beaten a length in a blanket finish in the race a year later. Never fared so well in the National finishing just once in 2005 (he fell at first Bechers in 2006). Eliminated in 2007 he ran in the Topham instead finishing eighth. He last raced at Perth in September 2008.

JUVEIGNEUR (FR) (1997) ch g Funny Baby - Azurea (On My Way) - Winner of 5 chases and a hurdle between 2002 & 2008. Won 4 chases for Guillaume Macaire in France and won the Kim Muir at the Festival on only his third UK start.  Surprisingly he only won one more race under rules a three runner novice hurdle at Plumpton starting at the ludicrous odds of 20-1 ON. Didn`t like Aintree , made lots of mistakes and finished unplaced in the 2005 Topham and got no further than the first fence in both the 2005 Becher Chase and 2006 National. Away from Aintree he was a fine servant to connections finishing second in the 2005 Betfred Gold Cup, second in the 2006 Hennessy, third in the 2006 Welsh National and just missed out on a Festival double when just touched off by a short head in a three way photo finish by Joes Edge in the 2007 William Hill Trophy. He also pulled up in a second Welsh National, a Scottish National and an Irish National. Last raced under rules at Doncaster in January 2008 and was later sold to Ireland where he ran in Irish point to points until 2011 winning seven of them.

LE ROI MIGUEL (FR) (1998) b g Point of No Return - Loumir (Bob`s Dusty) - Won a hurdle and 3 chases between 2001 & 2006. Fell in 2003 Arkle but won the Maghull Novices Chase on Grand National day and followed up with victory in the Grade 1 Swordstown Chase at the Punchestown Festival. On the back of these victories he was rated joint third novice chaser for the season by Timeform. Didn`t quite live up to that initial promise but did win the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon, finished fourth in the King George VI Chase and chased home the magnificent Moscow Flyer in the Melling Chase. Showed nothing thereafter and was discounted at 150-1 when he ran in the 2006 National and never going well was pulled up. Sold for 33,000 guineas at Doncasters May sales his career under rules was over at the age of eight. Three years later he was seen running in point to points - his form figures - PPPP0

LORD OF ILLUSION (IRE) (1997)  b g  Mister Lord - Jellaride (Kings Ride) - Won a hurdle and 5 chases between 2002 & 2010. Useful novice in 2004-05 winning five times. Outclassed in both the Hennessy and the Gold Cup (finishing last in a big field). Amongst the leaders on the first circuit in the 2006 National but lost his place rapidly after the water and was pulled up (it transpired he had broken a blood vessel). Only reached the frame twice more over fences and was a distant fifteenth in the 2007 Topham but he did manage to win three point to points in 2009.

NATIVE UPMANSHIP (IRE) (1993) ch g  Be My Native - Hi`Upham (Deep Run) - Won a NH flat race, 2 hurdles and 13 chases between 1998 & 2006. One of the best two and half mile chasers to come out of Ireland during the decade and winning-most horse featured here. Won a valuable novice hurdle at the Punchestown Festival in 1998. Top novice chaser the following season winning his first three chases including the Dennys Gold Medal Chase at the Leopardstown Christmas meeting. Started favourite for the RSA Chase at Cheltenham but made mistakes and could only finish fourth but he reverted back to wining ways in the Powers Gold Cup at Fairyhouse. The following season he won the Fortria Chase and beat Florida Pearl by a head in the Punchestown Chase (Florida Pearl was to reverse the placing by a short-head the following season). He twice finished second in the Queen Mother Chase in 2002 and 2003 but his finest moments came when he won the Melling Chase in 2002 (beat Wahiba Sands by a length) and in 2003 (beat Seebald by a length). He also won a second Punchestown Chase in 2002. Moscow Flyer prevented him from winning three Melling Chases in 2004.  He was thirteen and in the twilight of his career when he lined up in the National and without a win for nearly two years was unconsidered at 100-1. He dwelt at the start and was tailed off for the first cicuit. He was starting to make ground when he was hampered at the nineteenth and that was it. He refused four from home. He raced just one more time when finishing a distant last of six behind Gold Cup winner War of Attrition in the Guinness Gold Cup at the Punchestown Festival.

NIL DESPERANDUM (IRE) (1997) b g  Un Desperado - Still Hoping (Kambalda) - Won a NH flat race, 3 hurdles and 4 chases between 2002 & 2007. Useful novice hurdler (finished sixth behind Hardy Eustace in the Sun Alliance Novices Hurdle in 2002). Won his first two chases the second of which was the Grade 1 Drinmore Chase at Fairyhouse in November 2003. Had a great record over the National fences completing the course each of the four times he raced. Made his debut finishing a never dangerous sixth behind Hedgehunter in 2005. He then flopped badly in the Becher Chase but ran much better in his second National and was one of four horses who drew clear in the run-in. He looked booked for third spot but Clan Royal got a second wind and just touched him off preventing what would have been an unprecedented Irish one two three. He was a disappointing eleventh in the Scottish National on hs next start. For the following season he was trained by Venetia Williams and after a much better performance in the Becher Chase he won the Eider Chase by an impressive twelve lengths and was propelled to favouritism for the 2007 National. Sadly on his next start, the Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter he broke down badly and had to be put down. 

RINCE RI (IRE) (1993) ch g Orchestra - Mildreds Ball (Blue Refrain) - Won 3 hurdles & 9 chases between 1997 & 2006. Very useful Irish chaser who won his first three hurdles (all at Navan) and his first chase (also at Navan). During his novice campaign he won two Grade 3 chases and finished with victory in the Grade 1 Powers Gold Cup at Fairyhouse. He won two Ericsson Chases and a Pillar Property Chase at Cheltenham in 2002 but despite being aimed for the Gold Cup three times he only managed to line up in the Blue Riband once in 2000 when he was a very disant fourth when he unseated three out despite Ruby Walshs best endeavours to keep the partnership intact (it was his first ride in the race). A bout of colic scuppered his attempt in 2002 and when he returned he was not quite the same although he did win the Bobbyjo Chase in February 2003 and finished second behind First Gold in the Heineken Gold Cup at Punchestown. Lightly raced in his final seasons and to be fair the National was something of an afterthought. It was to be his final race and he started at 100-1. He refused in the closing stages having never really got into the race.

RISK ACCESSOR (1995) b g Commanche Run - Bellatollah (Bellman) - Won 4 hurdles and 8 chases between 1999 & 2008. Useful Irish Chaser who didn`t get far in his first two National attempts but it was a case of third time lucky as he put up a solid performance to finish fifth in 2006. He ran ten times at Cheltenham without success although did finish second the 2003 Grand Annual, second in the 2003 Tripleprint Gold Cup and fifth in the 2006 Kim Muir. Eliminated in 2007 & 2008 he ran in the Topham instead in 2007 finishing eleventh. Enjoyed a renaissance in 2007-08 winning four chase on the bounce at  Folkestone, Market Rasen, Worcester and Bangor in what was his last race in February 2008.

ROSS COMM (1996) gr g Minster Son - Yemaail (Shaadi) - Won a hurdle and 6 chases between 2003 & 2008. Won three times at Worcester and twice at Carlisle. Fell in 2005 Hennessy but won his prep race for the National at Bangor. That was his final victory and he fell early in the 2006 National. He was highly tried the following year running in several big races, fifth in the 2007 Scottish National was his best performance, He last raced at Cartmel in July 2004

SHOTGUN WILLY (1994) ch g Be My Native - Minorettes Girl (Strong Gale) - Won 4 hurdles and 4 chases between 1999 & 2006. Unbeaten over hurdles he won his first two starts over fences before losing his unbeaten record with a terrible display behind Bacchanal in the Feltham Novices Chase. Then in March 2001 he provided the shock of the season when, on only his fourth start over fences he beat the countries leading chaser, First Gold at level weights in the AON Chase at Newbury. Connections may have been tempted for a crack at the Gold Cup after this performance but this was the year of foot and mouth and with Cheltenham abandoned he had to settle for the Mildmay Novices Chase on bottomless ground at Aintree when he was beaten a distance by Whats Up Boys. Lightly raced and highly tried the following season he failed in the Gold Cup and put up his best performance when finishing second in the Scottish National. Unfortunately he sustained a leg injury at Ayr which kept him off the course for nearly eleven months. When he returned in what was probably the training performance of the season when under top weight of eleven stone twelve he beat an ultra competitive field in Haydocks Red Square Vodka Gold Cup a performance which propelled him to favouritism in what was probably the most open and competitive Grand National for years. He ran poorly at Aintree, never getting into the race and Ruby Walsh pulled him up before second Bechers. He turned out again in the Scottish National equipped with first time blinkers as he hadn`t been felt to have done a great deal at Aintree but put up another below par performance. That was it really for this very popular and talented animal who was just short of top class. He missed the following season and showed nothing in three starts in 2004-05 (pulled up in both Welsh and Midlands Nationals). Next seen out at very long odds in the 2006 National having been leased to the Alder Hey Imagine Appeal. Sported the most colourful colours ever seen in a National and blazed the trail for a circuit before rapidly weakening and pulling up. His final start was in the Scottish National where he completed quite a feat - four consecutive "Nationals" - four pulled ups.

SIR OJ (IRE) (1997) br g Be My Native - Fox Glen (Furry Glen) - Won NH flat race, 2 hurdles and 7 chases between 2002 & 2006. Had a very inauspicious start to his career finishing twentieth in a twenty two runner bumper at Naas in June 2002. A year later won his next flat race and also won on his debut over hurdles and fences. Proved to be very useful over fences winning a Grade 2 event at Punchestown in November 2004. Finished unplaced in the Arkle Chase at the 2005 Festival and three days later lined up again to finish a credible fourth in the inaugural Jewson Novices Chase. The following year he went from strength to strength winning Cheltenhams December Gold Cup (run that year in memory of the late Robin Cook) and was fancied for the Ryanair Chase but fell. Didn`t look like he was enjoying it at Aintree and was trailing most of the way and was last to jump second Bechers when he fell. The following autumn he showed he had suffered no ill -effects by landing two Grade 2 chases at Gowran Park and Clonmel but mysteriously was not seen out again.

TAKE THE STAND (1996)  b g  Witness Box - Denys Daughter (Crash Course) - Won 2 hurdles and 14 chases in a ten year career between 2000 & 2010. A wonderful servant to connections who was still winning races at the age of fourteen. Won Summer National at Uttoxeter in 2004 and finished second at 25-1 to Kicking King in the 2005 Gold Cup. On the back of that race was fancied for the National but unseated at the Chair. In 2006 he chose the slightly easier option of the Betfair Bowl where he finished second to Celestial Gold. In later years became a useful hunter chaser and won over the Mildmay course at one of Aintree`s evening meetings. A return to the National fences was less successful which saw him falling in the 2009 Foxhunters. Last raced at Uttoxeter in June 2010.

THEREALBANDIT (IRE) (1997) b g Torus - Sunrise Highway VII (damsire unregistered) - Won 5 hurdles and 4 chases between 2003 & 2006. Won his sole point to point in Ireland. After four victories during the summer of 2003 he won a hurdle race at Cheltenhams Open meeting (his first of seven consecutive outings at Prestbury Park) before switching to fences. So impressive were his first two performances that all talk of an assault on the RSA Chase was put on hold whilst serious consideration was given to a Gold Cup challenge. A fall in his first start out of novice company in the Pillar Property Chase did not dent confidence and despite this being only his fourth start over fences he started 15-2 second favourite in the Gold Cup. Sadly as with Martin Pipes other Gold Cup novices the task was beyond him. Held up on the first circuit he never got competitive and finished tailed off seventh of eight finishers beaten a total of forty eight lengths. The following season after a spell over hurdles he won a small race at Cheltenham and thereafter was campaigned in the highest company with a second assault on the Gold Cup planned. He clearly wasn`t top class as he weakened badly in the closing stages to finish seventh behind Kicking King in the King George and although he got within seven lengths of the popular grey Grey Abbey in the Pillar Property Chase he was again soundly beaten in the Gold Cup. He showed very little thereafter save for one glorious day at Wetherby on Boxing day when he turned the tables on Grey Abbey and beat Gold Cup runner up Take the Stand in the valuable Rowland Meyrick to give young Andrew Glassonbury the highlight of his career. His next race was the National and whilst he was unconsidered at 50-1 he actually ran very well. Up with the leaders throughout he survived a bad mistake at the water and it was only when the petrol emptied after the twenty sixth fence that he was pulled up when still in contention. He finished fifth in the Bet 365 Gold Cup on his next start when he jumped badly left throughout. That turned out to be his final racecourse appearance. That wasn`t the plan though but in November 2006 he suffered an accident in training and had to be put down.

TYNEANDTHYNEAGAIN (1995) b g Good Thyne - Radical Lady (Radical) - Won 4 hurdles and 2 chases between 2000 & 2006. His mum completed the course in Party Politics National in the 1992. Not out of the first three in his first twelve races. He only won two chases, both in the winter of 2004 but they were both decent long distance events, the Great Yorkshire Chase and  Eider Chase at Newcastle. Would have had a chance in the 2004 National but was withdrawn on the day due to unsuitable ground. Missed the following season and switched stables. Showed little in his two prep races in 2006 and in the National was a first fence faller. That is not the end of the tale though as he continued riderless jumping every fence until the fourth last when he seemed to run into the ditch.  As he was being led back to the stables it was discovered that he had suffered serious spinal injuries which sadly necessitated his humane destruction.

WHISPERED SECRET (GER) (1999) b g  Selkirk - Wells Whisper (Sadlers Wells) - Won 4 hurdles and 4 chases between 2003 & 2008. Won on the flat at Neuss in Germany. Won three chases as a novice but was still inexperienced when he lined up at Aintree on what was only his ninth start over fences. Predictably he didn`t get very far but retained some ability and later won a Grade 3 handicap at Cheltenham in January 2007. Last seen pulling up in the 2008 Kim Muir at the Festival.