A history of the Coral Welsh Grand National

17 December 2014

1895           The first Welsh Grand National, held at Cardiff's Ely Racecourse, is won by Tom Cannon's Deerstalker.

1896           More than 40,000 racegoers flock to Ely Racecourse to see the 1892 Grand National winner Father O'Flynn take on the 1893 winner the legendary Cloister who, ridden by Welshman Gwyn Saunder Davies, wins in a common canter.

1914           Succubus (Charlie Kelly) dead heats with Dick Dunn (S B Walkington) and the pair later re-run the race with victory going to the former.

1936           Dorothy Paget's famed Golden Miller under top weight of 12st 7lb finishes third behind Sorley Boy.

1939           Mr J V Rank's Lacatoi, successful in 1935 and 1937, becomes the first and only horse to have won the race three times.

1948           With the closure of Ely Racecourse, the race is held at Newport's Caerleon Racecourse and is won by Captain Ryan Price's Bora's Cottage.

1949           Welshman Dick Francis wins the first Chepstow Welsh Grand National on Fighting Line.

1952           Monmouthshire's Alf Mullins, successful on Gallery in 1950, wins again on Dinton Lass.

1956           Frank Cundell's Crudwell, which holds the record for the most number of wins in the 20th century (50) is successful under Dick Francis.

1957           Michael Scudamore, who had won this year's Cheltenham Gold Cup on Linwell, scores on Creeola 11.

1961           Welsh trained Limonali gives David Nicholson his third win in the race. He won on Limonali in 1959 and former Welsh point-to-pointer Clover Bud in 1960.

1965           Former Welsh point-to-pointer Norther partnered by Terry Biddlecombe scores by a length from Quintina. Norther's trainer Denzil Jenkins, of Cowbridge, as Sqdn Ldr Jenkins, DFC, had commanded a squadron of fighter pilots during the war and had 192 flying operations to his credit.

1972           The Coral name is added to the race and one of the biggest crowd in years sees Charlie H, owned jointly by Chepstow steward Johnny Clay, the former Glamorgan cricketer and Mrs Sue Williams score a popular win.

1976           Rag Trade, who goes on to win the Aintree Grand National, gives trainer Fred Rimell his fourth success in the race.

1982           In a close finish, Jenny Pitman's well-bred Corbiere wins by a head from Pilot Officer and the following year is successful at Aintree.

1983           Jenny Pitman wins her second Welsh Grand National with the long striding Burrough Hill Lad who goes on to win, among other big races, the Cheltenham Gold Cup, King George V1 Chase and the Hennessy Gold Cup.

1985           Run And Skip gives Peter Scudamore the first of his four wins in the race (see racecard for the three others). Jack Fawcus also rode four Welsh Grand National winners at Cardiff in 1934,1935,1937 and 1939.

1989           Martin Pipe's Bonanza Boy, who had also won in 1988, becomes the first dual winner of the race since Limonali in 1959 and 1961.

1991          The giant Carvill's Hill, shouldering a hefty 11st 12lb, leaves his rivals trailing in his wake and gives Peter Scudamore his fourth win in the race.

1997           Earth Summit makes racing history by becoming the first horse to win the Aintree, Scottish and Welsh Grand Nationals.

2000           Jocks Cross wins for Hereford's Venitia Williams.

2002           Mini-Sensation gives owner J P McManus the first of his two wins in the race.

2003           Bindaree, winner of the 2002 Aintree Grand National, is successful under Pembrokeshire's Carl Llewellyn.

2005           L'Aventure wins for trainer Paul Nicholls who had won the previous year with Silver Birch. Paul also rode Playschool to win in 1987.

2009           Dream Alliance bred on an allotment scores a surprise win for a syndicate of Welsh owners.

2010           Synchronised gives J P McManus his second success and goes on to win at Aintree.

2012           Welsh hopes are dashed when Monbeg Dude pips the Rebecca Curtis trained favourite Teaforthree.

 

By Brian Lee

 

Channel 4 Racing:

Channel 4’s coverage of the Coral Welsh Grand National on Saturday, 27th December begins with The Morning Line at 8am.

Afternoon racing is live from 1:15 – 3:45pm presented by Nick Luck