27/12/2011 Racing from Chepstow


27/12/2011

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across into Monmouthshire for the biggest racing day in the Welsh

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calendar. We are here in Chepstow. You will find Chepstow Castle in

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the town itself, the oldest castle in Britain. We have a group of

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people for a massive day of fun, friendship and a social occasion as

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well. All of them trying to work out the puzzle that is the marathon

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of the Welsh National. Which of the 20 runners will emerge today? I

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would not dream of wearing a coat this colour normally because it

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would be the same colour as my face! Today, it is remarkably mild.

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We have a wonderful day here. I hope everyone at home has had a

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great Christmas. You can settle back and enjoy what we have had on

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offer for you today. It's a prestigious race. It is one of the

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races people are keen to win. a good test of jumping ability.

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need a horse that handles the deep ground. You have to be in the right

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car with the right engine! COMMENTARY: They are starting to

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line up for the Welsh National! Away they go. It's a grind. We have

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lost one. It is not for the fainthearted. This is a crucial

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stage of the race. Coming to the second last. One left to jump.

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Notre Pere goes on to win! It is one of the most emotional successes

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I have ever had in my life. We have had some wonderful stories and some

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thrilling finishes. Whose day will it be today? That's Wayne

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Hutchinson, he rides Blazing Bailey. Matthew Batchelor will be on board

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Carruthers. We have lots of chat about Mattie and Joe Tizzard, he is

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on Hey Big Spender. There's Tom Scudamore, who will be riding

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Master Overseer. I'm joined by Mick Fitzgerald. Did you have a good

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Christmas? I did. For racing fans, it is all about Chepstow today and

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Boxing Day at Kempton. We were there to see Kauto Star win the

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King George? Hairs on the back of my neck stood up like never before.

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It was a day for everybody to say, "I was there when Kauto Star won

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his fifth King George." We will be reflecting on that as well, as well

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as bringing you all the big races from here at Chepstow. The course

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here is picturesque and unique with its length. We will be taking a

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look at it through the eyes of the jockeys. The Hennessy hero was

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Carruthers, a dream result for Lord Oaksey. The horse is looked after

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by Lord Oaksey's daughter. The Welsh National is our feature race

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and the biggest race of the year in Wales. It is due off at 2.10pm. We

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will show you how the fences are built here, too. Our card finishes

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with the Future Champions Finale Juvenile Hurdle, stars of the

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future. This is a race restricted to three-year-olds. If you want to

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plan your races, the first one is due off at 1.00pm. No non-runners

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Persad is on the first bend. This is the finish of our first race -

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Alfie Spinner made all the running. A spare ride here for Tom Scudamore.

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Maringo Bay tried to take him on. Alfie Spinner just had a bit too

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much class. He was the odds-on favourite. Plenty of people had

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decided to follow the favourites today. Let's find Rishi Persad on

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that first bend. This afternoon's Welsh National is a test of stamina.

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How much of a test of stamina depends on the ground. Richard

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Dunwoody spoke to a few jockeys who rode in the first race. What did

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they make of it? I spoke to Tom who picked up a nice spare in the first

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and he said it's heavy. It is not as heavy as sometimes they get at

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Chepstow. You can see here, they are getting into it well. It is not

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as deep as some years. They will have to play it sensibly. It will

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be a long way. There will be some tired horses. You have won it,

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almost 20 years ago now? Yes. will win it this afternoon? Each

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way bet, As De Fer has a nice chance. I'm going for Cappa Bleu.

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Let's check the runners and riders for this year's Welsh National. We

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Apology for the loss of subtitles for 80 seconds

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hammering. Yesterday at Kempton, they had their tails between their

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legs long before the last race was run. I wonder how many have stepped

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out here to try and get their money back today. John Parrott and Gary

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are in the betting ring. bookmakers are here today. The big

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boys are here. They got a pasting yesterday. Plenty of favourites

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winning yesterday and Kauto Star coming home. They are trying to get

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it back today. I sent Gary off to find a bookmakers. Typically, you

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have found three beautiful girls with money! Unbelievable. I got

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Jessica, Olivia and Emily. Girls, what did you get for Christmas?

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Jewellery. IPod. Shoes. This is the prices for the Welsh National.

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Giles Cross 6-1 favourite. What has been the best-backed horse? Viking

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Blond. There's a tip there! It could be the one! Quite a tenuous

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link! What are your thoughts looking through that field for the

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Welsh National? I'm a great believer in you have got to find a

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horse that will go around the soft ground, especially here. It is a

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very different track. How did you find it riding here? It took me a

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long time. I used to be scratching my head every time I come back in.

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Basically, I was trying to find a nice rhythm, to get a horse in it,

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keep him in it. We have seen from Welsh Nationals in the past you can

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win it from the front, you can win it from behind the leaders and you

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can win it from way back like AP McCoy did last year. He's riding in

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Ireland today. The runners are making their way down to the start

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for the first of our live races so let's join Jim McGrath.

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So, these runners and riders for our first televised race from

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Chepstow today. Let's have a look our opening race today. The

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Stow. Been smashed off the boards, John at 7-2. Can't believe it!

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Sounds like they are latching on to Venetia Williams's runner, Stow.

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Here is that horse, with Robbie Dunne on board. This horse has made

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a pretty impressive start under rules this season and has course

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and distance form which is very important? Very important. Venetia

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Williams's horses are threatening to come into a rich vein of form.

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Certainly looks like this horse has a good chance. He seems to be

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pretty well suited by testing ground as well. Pretty fairly

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handicapped as well, all the weights according to horses'

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abilities. But the trick is to try and keep ahead of the handicapper

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so your horse is still improving and the handicapper hasn't quite

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realised it - it is like sneaking into exams! It could be a very

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interesting race because I know Rev It Up is well fancied. Venetia

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Williams trains not far away in Herefordshire and Rev It Up is

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trained by Tim Vaughan, who trains here in Wales. This is Rev It Up we

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are seeing here. This horse was very impressive last time, Clare.

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He got beaten last time out. This horse is a stand-out in the paddock.

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Tim Vaughan, four winners yesterday. Absolutely. Three of them at Ffos

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Las. You can see from the size and scope from him, he has that muscle

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behind him as well. We have a couple of horses in shot - Extreme

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Impact and Monsieur Cadou. This horse running with only 10 stone 1

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pound on his back. That could help him. It could. This horse has

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climbed up the weights without winning. You were saying about

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having a step ahead of the handicapper. This horse has always

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been clobbered by the handicapper and he hasn't won a race. Let's

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have a look at the market and see where Monsieur Cadou and the others

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feature. Stow is your favourite at 11-4. Gary? Welsh National Day,

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there is money for Stow. It is now the jolly old favourite. 11-4 Stow.

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All the money for one horse, Stow! Jockeys are getting ready at the

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start on what is testing here. very good rider riding him, Maurice

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Linehan. Done very well since he's come over from Ireland. He has a

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31% strike rate. It looks like they are going to be bang off on time.

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Jim McGrath? Richard Dunwoody is in the

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commentary box with me. Some of the boys are saying it is a little bit

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better than that? We were saying after the first race that I have

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seen it a lot worse. It can be a real slog. It will be an

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interesting race. This is fascinating this plunge on Stow.

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Yes. You would say you couldn't give him a chance on his last run

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with Monsieur Cadou. But, you know, they know a lot more about him

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today that possibly your punters wouldn't. Money talks. That's it.

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It does. They are coming in. You saw the starter walking over. He's

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calling them in now. They will jump one flight of hurdles before they

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start a very long run. There they are on the hurdles course. That's

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it. He lets them go. They are off and running in this three-mile

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Handicap Hurdle. Up on the outside is Strategic Approach, in the

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yellow sleeves as they come to the first. They are all over it safely

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from in the centre Palace Jester and also there with the noseband is

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Extreme Impact and Rev It Up on the near side, just showing the way

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with ears pricked, very steady pace in the early stages and Rev It Up

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just showing the way from Extreme Impact and wider out in third place

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is Strategic Approach, tucked in behind them is Palace Jester,

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followed by Monsieur Cadou, who is tucked in behind them, so too

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Mobaasher, they are followed by Stow, the plunge horse in second

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last position and Makhzoon is last. They have gone a very sedate pace

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in the first half-mile or so. Only six lengths consequently covers the

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field. On the inside holding the rail is Rev It Up, Aidan Coleman,

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from Strategic Approach, right there in the centre is Extreme

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Impact, in behind them is Mobaasher, on the inside there of Palace

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Jester who is wider out, Monsieur Cadou in the centre, two lengths

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away Stow, the red cap on the outside of Makhzoon. They come up

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the home straight on the first occasion. Passing the half-mile peg.

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Still a lot longer than that to go. They come to the second. They all

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jumped it well. The far side Rev It Up, just increasing the tempo

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slightly, from Extreme Impact in the noseband on the near side, the

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yellow sleeves of Strategic Approach, as they go over the third.

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In the centre, Monsieur Cadou and then on the near side is Palace

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Jester, followed by Stow who is the white-faced red cap in the centre.

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They go over the fourth. Mobaasher dived at that. No damage done. But

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a sloppy jump. Just behind them is Makhzoon. Heading up now towards

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the one that will be the last next time round, number five. With ears

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pricked on the far side, it is Rev It Up joined by Extreme Impact as

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they head towards it now. Better jump by Extreme Impact, took off a

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fraction early, from Rev It Up and then back in third is Monsieur

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Cadou on the outside of Strategic Approach, they are followed by

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Palace Jester, Mobaasher behind them from Makhzoon and Stow is at

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the tail of the field, Robbie Dunne has dropped back there with the Red

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Cap. The favourite at this stage, the well-backed Stow seems to be

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going OK? I'm not that happy with him. He's had a couple of slaps

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down the shoulder. They all handle that bend OK. But no, I haven't

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been impressed. He is travelling off the bridle. Rev It Up is

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travelling well. His jockey, Aidan Coleman, will be happy with him.

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Yeah, he seems to be enjoying himself out in front, Rev It Up,

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ears pricked on the inside there, just showing the way. Narrowly from

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Extreme Impact, who is joining him again now. They sweep into the back

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now and they have three flights on this section of the course. Rev It

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Up is the leader as they come now towards flight six, Rev It Up,

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yellow cap, just from Extreme Impact in the centre, on the near

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side Strategic Approach, they are followed by Palace Jester out wide,

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in behind them is Monsieur Cadou and they are followed by Mobaasher.

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Stow is now starting to really feel the pinch - he is getting reminders

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and he is a very long last! So, upfront, Rev It Up is now headed by

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Extreme Impact in the centre, out wide is Monsieur Cadou, Rev It Up

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coming back to have another crack at them. Followed behind them as

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they head over the eighth by Palace Jester, a gap then to Strategic

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Approach, they are followed by Mobaasher, further back in the

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field is Makhzoon and looking back for Stow. Stow is about eight

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lengths behind the second-last horse and being ridden along and no

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response. So, the well-backed Stow seems to have lost his chance. It

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will be a miracle if he can win from there! They leave the back now

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and race across the top of the track, it is Extreme Impact the

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leader, from Rev It Up, who refuses to go away. Half a length further

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back is Monsieur Cadou on the outside, they are about four or

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five lengths clear - on the inside Palace Jester is fourth, then five

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lengths Mobaasher, followed by Strategic Approach and behind them

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is Makhzoon, forget about Stow. Turning for home now, they have

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four left to jump. Rev It Up, Aidan Coleman, just the leader, by a

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length or so, to Extreme Impact, just behind them on the outside is

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Monsieur Cadou, and Palace Jester coming up there in the centre.

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Coming to four out, Rev It Up led over it from Extreme Impact, who is

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still battling on, then Palace Jester, who is under the whip,

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followed by Monsieur Cadou. They race up now with two left to jump

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and Rev It Up has responded well, still about a length in front now

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as they head over the third last. It's still in front here, the far

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side, Rev It Up, from in the centre Extreme Impact, behind them is

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Palace Jester, followed by Monsieur Cadou. And it's Rev It Up who just

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clipped the top of that, Extreme Impact coming at him, here is

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Palace Jester getting a response from Maurice Linehan who has gone

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for the whip. They have one to jump. Rev It Up is still trying to cling

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to this lead. But Palace Jester coming at him. They come towards

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the last, Rev It Up, Palace Jester. They touchdown together. Far side

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though Palace Jester finding a bit more, goes a neck up now on the

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run-in. Palace Jester - coming back Rev It Up! Oh, it is close! Rev It

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Up and Palace Jester. It's very close. Then in third was Extreme

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Impact, followed by Monsieur Cadou, they are followed by Stow and

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further back then is Makhzoon. Last home is Mobaasher. That is

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desperately tight. Let's see them. Near side is Rev It Up. Far side is

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Palace Jester. They go to the line locked together. Oh my golly! That

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is very, very tight indeed. Absolutely locked together they are

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as they hit the line. That is desperately close. Desperately

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close, indeed. Between Rev It Up on the near side and Palace Jester on

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the far side. Let's see them jump the last. What a finish! What a

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fantastic race, Jim. Rev It Up, Aidan Coleman would have liked a

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better jump at the last. Maurice Linehan has given that a great ride.

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Absolutely. For his claim, he's just tremendous value, Maurice

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Linehan. He's shown so much promise on these horses. He has had a lot

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of winners for Jonjo. Stick in his right hand and very, very strong.

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Well, the judge is looking at the print now. We await his verdict

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after our first televised race on Welsh National Day.

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As they cross the line, there is no doubt that Maurice Linehan thought

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he had won it on Palace Jester and you saw a shot there of Tim Vaughan,

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the trainer of this horse, Rev It Up, he was going, "Oh no!" He was

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not sure. Mick, your reaction? It Up has just clung on. There is

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the trainer of Palace Jester. think Maurice Linehan thought he

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had won. Looking at Aidan Coleman's face, if it is a Poker Face...

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it comes. Palace Jester is number two, Rev It Up is three. It's a

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dead heat! Dead heat. Well, well! Our first live rice here on Welsh

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National Day, it is a dead heat. That is a lovely touch. The two

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jockeys grip each other's hand. They come in together. Everybody

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celebrates. Kisses all round for horses, for people and that is a

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very, very fair outcome, to be honest. Let's look at the print. We

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saw from our freeze-frame - as it went up, that line is obviously

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very, very accurate. It is a dead heat. What I loved, both horses had

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their ears pricked! I know. It is a fair result for everybody. I am

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sure punters at home will be delighted if they backed one or the

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other. We will have another look at that finish. Now we know it is a

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dead heat and there is no doubt Palace Jester went ahead. Rev It Up

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had been in front, was a bit sticky with some of his jumping. Just a

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stpab louse finish. Here is the -- fabulous finish. Here is the

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reaction of Tim Vaughan. He is having such a good season. A lot of

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support here in Wales. His wife just not sure. Now they can relax.

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It is a dead heat. Everybody wins. I'm with the connections of Rev It

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Up. Tim Vaughan and Aidan Coleman. Your thoughts goes down to the

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last? I thought I would get it. I landed a bit flat-footed. My horse

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was brave. He found for me. I owe him a lot. Great for Tim to put me

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back on a winner. At the line, had you any idea? No, I said to Maurice

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- we didn't have a clue. It wasn't happening. We didn't know until the

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result was called. A very quick word with Maurice. He is in as well.

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Congratulations. Did you think you had it wrapped up? No, no. I knew

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my lad would keep galloping. I kept going. I thought I didn't have it

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to be honest. We have a joint today. The one thing about your horse was

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he seemed to show a really good attitude? He was getting away from

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you? Yes, my lad kept his head down and kept fighting. I couldn't ask

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for any more. Well done. Thanks very much. Tim, fair to say your

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fellow, if he had jumped better, he probably would have won? Yes. He

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pricked his ears coming up the run- in. I am delighted. It is a fair,

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after seeing that, I am delighted for Jonjo and myself. Good. Good

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result for everyone. Well done. Jonjo is just around the corner. He

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is doing another interview for someone else at the moment. I will

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break in. Thank you for coming away quickly. Your thoughts on that

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start to the day? It was a tremendous start. It was a great

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race, great result. Horse and jockey done their best. Both of

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them. It's a long time since I have been in a dead heat. There haven't

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been too many. Must have been mixed emotions through that home

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straight? I thought Rev It Up was getting away from Palace Jester,

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then he got back, then the other horse fought back? Yes, it was very

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hard to - both horse and jockey were doing their best. Every time

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he got a smack, he kept producing. Listen, it was brilliant. It was a

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great result. Delighted for the owner and jockey and everybody.

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winner is a winner even if it is half a winner! We are quite happy

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with that! Well done. Cheers. a fantastic race. Palace Jester and

:28:54.:28:58.

Rev It Up - that dead heat. If you backed Stow, you never got a run

:28:58.:29:02.

for your money? Terrible. Stow was never going to win. What a finish

:29:02.:29:06.

for this race. You look behind us, people say what happens when it is

:29:06.:29:11.

a dead heat - Clare said everybody wins. If you can see the bookies,

:29:11.:29:16.

they are not waiting to have a bet! All these punters are waiting to

:29:16.:29:22.

draw their money. Plenty of happy faces down in the betting jungle.

:29:22.:29:29.

We don't mind if the bookmakers are the only ones that lose. It keeps

:29:29.:29:34.

everybody happy. We do have a decent crowd here. Also, very, very

:29:34.:29:39.

well represented are Welsh Paralympians. We hope that 30 Welsh

:29:39.:29:46.

athletes and swimmers, tennis players will be in next year's

:29:46.:29:50.

Paralympics and Disability Sport Wales was the chosen charity this

:29:50.:29:55.

year for Chepstow Racecourse and the chairman making a presentation

:29:55.:30:05.
:30:05.:30:13.

of �5,000 to the 11-times Paralympic gold medallists, Tanni-

:30:13.:30:17.

grey Thompson. Some of them are hoping to be selected for London in

:30:17.:30:27.
:30:27.:30:31.

now. Is it your first time at the Welsh National? It is. I have been

:30:32.:30:35.

to more race courses outside the UK than in the UK.

:30:35.:30:40.

You sent me a message saying, "Do I have to wear a hat?". I nearly had

:30:40.:30:44.

a crisis because I didn't have a hat two days ago. It is amazing to

:30:44.:30:54.
:30:54.:30:55.

be here. How excited are you that disability sport is becoming

:30:55.:31:05.
:31:05.:31:14.

popular in Wales? The money donate sd d is going towards supporting

:31:14.:31:19.

the athletes. Are you living back in Wales?

:31:19.:31:22.

still still live in the north-east, but I'm proud of being Welsh. My

:31:22.:31:26.

Welsh accent gets stronger the nearer I come to home. I started my

:31:26.:31:30.

career in Wales and without the support, I got, I wouldn't have

:31:30.:31:38.

done the things I did. What do you fin the reception is?

:31:38.:31:45.

Are you still a Welsh iconic hero? People are lovely. They are either

:31:45.:31:50.

formal or they go, "Are you all right, Tan?" It is always nice to

:31:50.:31:54.

come back and it is great to see the young athletes because next

:31:54.:31:59.

year means so much to them and the support they get and it will be an

:31:59.:32:04.

amazing year next year. Have you had a chance to look

:32:04.:32:09.

through the Welsh National field? am going on the colours of the

:32:09.:32:14.

silks. What's your favourite colours? Purple.

:32:14.:32:21.

We will look through for you, but not on colours, but not on red, I

:32:21.:32:26.

recommend recommend Carruthers. will nip there and put some money

:32:26.:32:32.

It is lovely to hear from such a tremendous athlete.

:32:32.:32:36.

Chepstow is one of the toughest tests. It is two miles and the home

:32:36.:32:40.

straight is very long and it is a real long way fort horses and the

:32:40.:32:46.

riders, but don't take my word for it. Let's hear from some of the

:32:46.:32:50.

jockeys taking part in the big race. It is up and down.

:32:50.:32:54.

It is a test of true stamina and jumping ability.

:32:54.:32:58.

More often than not you need a horse that has proven form around

:32:58.:33:03.

there. It is a tricky start. For the first

:33:03.:33:08.

mile, tas manic rush to the first bend. It can be really rough and

:33:08.:33:10.

chaotic. It can be tight and difficult to

:33:10.:33:15.

hold hold position. COMMENTATOR: And we lost one on the

:33:15.:33:20.

bend. We all spread out. If you get into

:33:20.:33:27.

a good rhythm. There are big fences. A lot of jumping.

:33:27.:33:32.

COMMENTATOR: This is a crucial stage in the race here. Once you

:33:32.:33:35.

have jumped a few down the back, you tend to find you settle down

:33:35.:33:40.

and hopefully you hit the rhythm. COMMENTATOR: As they turn towards

:33:40.:33:47.

home... It is a long slog up that straight in Chepstow.

:33:47.:33:53.

Comment five left top jump now... There is no other straight like

:33:53.:33:59.

Chepstow with five fences. It is probably five or six furlong

:33:59.:34:01.

running. You don't appreciate how long the

:34:01.:34:06.

running is especially when you jump the last you have a good furlong to

:34:06.:34:11.

It is important to keep your momentum up the home straight.

:34:11.:34:18.

A horse that handles the deep ground. Just keep at that one pace

:34:18.:34:27.

and keep it going for two or three miles. Well, the Welsh National

:34:27.:34:34.

prices, Gary, what do we know so far? These are unofficial prices,

:34:34.:34:39.

gu Giles Cross -- but Giles Cross is at 6-1.

:34:40.:34:47.

Viking Blond at 13. Le Beau Bai is a proven horse.

:34:47.:34:55.

The established ones have been here before.

:34:55.:35:00.

Le Beau Bai is 12lbs lower than a couple of years ago. He has got a

:35:00.:35:08.

chance. You're not meant to mention pounds

:35:08.:35:12.

at Christmas! You may never be this well

:35:12.:35:18.

handicapped again and they have got to go with him and Viking Blond.

:35:18.:35:24.

Viking Blond. You have got Master Overseer. He is 14-1. It is a

:35:24.:35:31.

fantastic Welsh National. Hey Big Spender giving four pounds to

:35:31.:35:40.

Carruthers. Bigger prices the others. Heathcliff fell a few years

:35:40.:35:43.

ago. You want to play each way on this

:35:43.:35:47.

race. That's what it is all about and it is a real, real hard race. I

:35:47.:35:50.

don't know who is going to win and I don't know who will be favourite.

:35:50.:36:00.
:36:00.:36:02.

I think Viking Blond could surprise another look at that dead-heat for

:36:02.:36:07.

the first race and I was saying everybody wins. The trophy

:36:07.:36:12.

presentation becomes rather crowded. It is a huge day for Coral and the

:36:12.:36:20.

owners of both horses coming up, Rev It Up and Palace Jester owned

:36:20.:36:27.

by Trevor Hemmings who is not here. Is that Jonjo's son on the right?

:36:27.:36:35.

They get a decanter to split in half! There was no dead-heat, but

:36:36.:36:41.

the finish was closer than some expected it to be in the King

:36:41.:36:46.

George chase in which Kauto Star was bidding to create history.

:36:46.:36:52.

Desert Orchid had been the most successful horse in this race,

:36:52.:36:59.

twice ridden by Richard Dunwoody. How impressed were you with Kauto

:36:59.:37:05.

Star's jumping yesterday? It was a brilliant, brilliant ride by Ruby

:37:05.:37:13.

Walsh and Kauto Star was keen not to take the plaudits. Paul Nichols

:37:13.:37:19.

said this horse deserves every mention in every paper.

:37:19.:37:24.

Long Run wasn't as fluent as the winner.

:37:24.:37:29.

Ruby was brilliant. I think he was especially brilliant yesterday. If

:37:29.:37:35.

he missed a beat at all yesterday, he he would have got beat. He has

:37:35.:37:39.

got Long Run at it up the straight and he forced him into that mistake

:37:39.:37:44.

at the last and he was just fantastic. Fantastic for racing and

:37:44.:37:47.

fantastic to have racing on the front pages again.

:37:47.:37:54.

This morning Paul Nichols was on Radio 4 and he was saying that

:37:54.:37:58.

Kauto Star is in great shape today. This was the reception for him as

:37:58.:38:02.

he came into the Winner's Enclosure and look at Ruby Walsh. We're

:38:02.:38:07.

talking about a hardened professional jump jockey and this

:38:07.:38:12.

horse makes him behave in a way that no other horse makes him

:38:12.:38:17.

behave. It brings out a deeper emotion and they took a risk making

:38:17.:38:25.

that, five times winner of VI. When Ruby Walsh pulled up on him,

:38:26.:38:29.

he took the horse back down to the crowd in front of the stands and it

:38:29.:38:34.

was hairs on the back of your neck standing up stuff. I had good days

:38:34.:38:38.

as a jockey, but nothing will compare to the reception the horse

:38:38.:38:43.

got yesterday. It will be a day I will remember for a long time.

:38:43.:38:47.

You rode Desert Orchid and he won a Gold Cup... I didn't take him back

:38:47.:38:54.

to the stands afterwards. I don't know why I didn't do that. Is Kauto

:38:55.:39:01.

Star a better horse? I will never say that, Clare, no! Different

:39:01.:39:06.

generations and he is a fantastic horse. Desert Orchid did it as an

:39:06.:39:16.
:39:16.:39:20.

11-year-old also, the horse finished second to me and beaten by

:39:20.:39:27.

twelfth lengths Toby Tobias. Kauto Star will be turning 12 on

:39:27.:39:32.

New Year's Day. You have got time to to send him a birthday card if

:39:32.:39:39.

you want to! Standing next to me is a young guy

:39:39.:39:44.

who is only 16. His name is Brendan Powell. You had your first ride in

:39:44.:39:48.

February of this year, but already you are making a big mark? Yes. It

:39:48.:39:52.

has been going well. I have been lucky. I have been put on nice

:39:52.:39:57.

horses. I rode for good trainers, I have been lucky.

:39:57.:40:01.

Was it always an ambition to become a jockey? Did you take that from

:40:01.:40:09.

your dad? Racing has been in the blood. Mum and dad rode. Most 16-

:40:09.:40:14.

year-olds for Christmas get ready for a wii and to spend days playing

:40:14.:40:17.

their PlayStation, but you're riding out and getting ready to

:40:17.:40:21.

ride in the biggest race in your career so far in the Welsh National

:40:21.:40:27.

today? Yeah, exactly. I was looking on the the decks and I saw I had

:40:27.:40:31.

one down for the Welsh National. That made my Christmas and put a

:40:31.:40:36.

smile on my face. And you are riding Knighton Combe.

:40:36.:40:43.

What chance of a fairytale success at the age of 16 16? He is a nice

:40:43.:40:47.

horse. He is there with a chance. There are plenty of runners. The

:40:47.:40:51.

ground will be testing so if he is good enough he will be there or

:40:51.:40:55.

thereabouts. I hate to burden Brendan with this

:40:55.:41:01.

label, but we are picking stars out to follow for the future and I

:41:01.:41:06.

think Brendan Powell will be a star of the future.

:41:06.:41:13.

Every person watching is going, "Gosh, I feel old." He looks a

:41:13.:41:18.

cracking jock. He is a natural, natural rider. Well, we have one

:41:18.:41:24.

more race for the Coral Welsh National.

:41:24.:41:34.
:41:34.:41:35.

There is a field of fourteen for let's look at the runners here and

:41:35.:41:45.
:41:45.:41:45.

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 80 seconds

:41:45.:42:30.

miles and three-and-a-half furlongs. Here is the betting on this 1.30pm.

:42:30.:42:40.
:42:40.:42:53.

going to go for Pigeon Island. Because it is the only one I can

:42:53.:42:57.

pronounce! It is a bit trick European

:42:57.:43:04.

Commission tricky, isn't it? Let's look at the horse that snuck in on

:43:04.:43:09.

bottom weight and James Best on board taking another 7 pounds off

:43:09.:43:12.

that. That's why the saddle is small in terms of jump racing. This

:43:12.:43:18.

is a horse who has got a new lease of life since joining Alan Jones

:43:18.:43:22.

and won his last two starts without much effort. This is a stronger

:43:22.:43:29.

test, but you would think that he is in form and gets in on a

:43:29.:43:34.

featherweight. Yes, he dotted up last time. It was

:43:34.:43:38.

on very different ground. They have got to take advantage of the

:43:38.:43:42.

handicap mark. He is due to go up again. He is being chased down by

:43:43.:43:49.

another horse. That's upsetting him a bit. He won on his last two rides

:43:49.:43:54.

so he is on a bit of a run. That's Fahrisee who is keen in the

:43:54.:44:00.

foreground and being well controlled there by Adam Wenlg.

:44:00.:44:08.

Chance du Roy is the weight. He is the top weight, Clare. Philip,

:44:08.:44:12.

you must be delighted with this horse having got him back to his

:44:12.:44:17.

best? We nearly didn't run because we thought the ground would be too

:44:17.:44:21.

quick because he prefers softer ground. Softer ground today should

:44:21.:44:24.

suit, but we are high in the candy cap.

:44:24.:44:28.

You have got conditions in your favour, but he has to produce one

:44:28.:44:32.

of his best performances to win today? It will have to be his best.

:44:32.:44:35.

It would have to be his best performance to win.

:44:35.:44:39.

It is a tough race and conditions this afternoon will sort out a few

:44:39.:44:42.

horses, I suppose that will be one thing that you will be hoping is in

:44:42.:44:46.

your favour? He seems to manage with the soft ground very well and

:44:46.:44:51.

won here last year. So certainly it would be more in his favour than

:44:51.:44:54.

some of the others. Best of luck this afternoon.

:44:54.:44:59.

Thank you. Just news of a little bit of a

:44:59.:45:04.

sting in the tail for Maurice Linehan, he picked up a five day

:45:04.:45:10.

suspension for using his whip ten times in the strait. A lot of us

:45:10.:45:13.

are thinking that jump racing is better for the restricted use of

:45:13.:45:17.

the whip and the jockeys are riding differently and horses responding

:45:17.:45:22.

for physical physical pressure that doesn't respond to the whip.

:45:22.:45:28.

This is Glenwood Knight and a horse that will have no worries in terms

:45:28.:45:34.

of stamina. He will have a lot of worries with the obstacles. I

:45:34.:45:38.

watched this horse at Carlisle and they did very well on him because

:45:38.:45:42.

he is not the easiest. He fell twice. I watched him fall at

:45:42.:45:47.

Newbury and he lay down. This horse has got, you will need all of

:45:47.:45:51.

Timmy's mastery today. He is a coacher, Timmy Murphy, he

:45:51.:45:55.

will try and persuade a horse that he is not in a race.

:45:55.:46:00.

If anyone can get him jurching, it is -- -- jumping, it is Timmy. He

:46:00.:46:10.
:46:10.:46:11.

is the right man for this horse. There we see Aidan Coleman on Plein

:46:11.:46:21.
:46:21.:46:30.

Pouvoir. This horse bolted up by 28 lengths.

:46:30.:46:38.

Not without a chance. Venetia said it might be better

:46:38.:46:42.

carrying more weight in lesser company.

:46:42.:46:52.
:46:52.:47:21.

Let's look and see where Plein ride. They are coming out on to the

:47:21.:47:25.

course. Here is Jim. So they are starting to line up now.

:47:25.:47:31.

And the starter says, "No. No. No." Pigeon Island is a long way behind

:47:31.:47:34.

them as you can see there, the grey there. Some ten lengths or so

:47:35.:47:40.

behind. In the interests of fairness he had to call them back.

:47:40.:47:46.

On a day like this, they get so keyed up, the jockeys. So eager to

:47:46.:47:50.

get up to the tapes and get a really handy position. Look at

:47:50.:47:54.

Pigeon Island. Look at him back there. So he has really reacted

:47:54.:48:04.

well, the starter in calling them back. There he is, the starter.

:48:04.:48:10.

Let's just see this tape going across the track once again. There

:48:10.:48:17.

it is. That's it. They're off this time and Pigeon Island is right up

:48:17.:48:23.

there there and he is in third position. Got Attitude as they come

:48:23.:48:29.

to the first fences. Consigliere jumps up there, the one with the

:48:29.:48:38.

big white face. Quolibet on the far-right. Take ago dive in the

:48:38.:48:42.

centre, Plein Pouvoir. He goes up to take a narrow lead. Plein

:48:42.:48:46.

Pouvoir and behind them has Got Attitude, just behind them in

:48:46.:48:54.

fourth position the grey, over on the far rail is Quolibet. The other

:48:54.:48:57.

grey is and Quincy Des Pictons with the white cap followed by Chance du

:48:57.:49:02.

Roy, out wider is Nadiya De La Vega and followed by Pigeon Island.

:49:02.:49:11.

Further back then is Fahrisee in in the black cap. They come to the

:49:11.:49:15.

fifth now and further back in the field then at this stage we see

:49:15.:49:21.

getting over that on the near-side going up towards the leaders now as

:49:21.:49:28.

they race up. We are just over a circuit. Cadoudalas is on the near

:49:28.:49:33.

side and Romanesco and last is Glenwood Knight. The leader there

:49:33.:49:40.

is Plein Pouvoir in the red jacket as they run-down hill. The white

:49:40.:49:50.
:49:50.:49:58.

face in the centre. Got Attitude followed in third third by teak by

:49:58.:50:04.

Take the breeze. Followed by Quolibet as they are climbing up

:50:04.:50:10.

towards the back now and further back in the field then is

:50:10.:50:20.

Cadoudalas, Quincy Des Pictons has been shuffled back. Further back

:50:20.:50:24.

then is Fahrisee as they head towards fence number six. Heading

:50:24.:50:30.

over that, the leaders jump it very well. Nozic was awkward. Coming to

:50:30.:50:35.

the second open ditch and Plein Pouvoir, the leader over it by

:50:35.:50:40.

three lengths or so to Got Attitude in second, in third Take The Breeze

:50:40.:50:43.

on the outside as they come to the eighth. Quincy Des Pictons made

:50:43.:50:48.

good ground from Pigeon Island in the centre. Romanesco jumped out in

:50:48.:50:52.

last. But it is Plein Pouvoir the leader by two lengths down the back

:50:52.:50:56.

from Got Attitude. Got Attitude as they go to the ninth. Quincy Des

:50:56.:51:00.

Pictons jumped up spectacularly in the third there. Cadoudalas was

:51:00.:51:04.

just getting out of his ground now and losing touch with them as they

:51:04.:51:10.

continue their journey down the back towards fence number 11. Here

:51:10.:51:14.

is Plein Pouvoir. He jumped it in good style, but joined by Quincy

:51:14.:51:18.

Des Pictons on the outside and on the near side in third place is Got

:51:18.:51:28.
:51:28.:51:29.

Attitude. As they go over the next next Consigliere. About five

:51:29.:51:33.

lengths then Chance du Roy as they continue their journey to the far

:51:33.:51:38.

corner of the course now and these leaders, about six or seven of them,

:51:38.:51:40.

are starting to group up and getting away from the main body of

:51:40.:51:45.

the field. So it is Quincy Des Pictons on the outside just the

:51:45.:51:50.

leader and Plein Pouvoir. Against The rail in third is Got Attitude.

:51:50.:51:54.

Two lengths away is Consigliere. They are followed by Pigeon Island

:51:54.:51:58.

and further back then Take The Breeze and Chance du Roy. On the

:51:58.:52:03.

turn for home now and they have got five left to home. On the outside

:52:03.:52:07.

the leader, with the white cap, Quincy Des Pictons. Comes towards

:52:08.:52:12.

five out, but Plein Pouvoir is still there on the inside. They

:52:12.:52:18.

were clear of Consigliere in third and Nozic and Got Attitude and

:52:18.:52:22.

Chance du Roy and further back is Take The Breeze and Nadiya De La

:52:22.:52:29.

Vega is struggling. That was four out and the field is spreading.

:52:29.:52:33.

Quincy Des Pictons, James Best has opened up a gap of eight lengths on

:52:33.:52:38.

the leader. In second Plein Pouvoir as they head towards three out. He

:52:38.:52:42.

jumped it well, the leader. In second, Chance du Roy followed by

:52:42.:52:46.

Consigliere and further back is Plein Pouvoir. They have two left

:52:46.:52:50.

to jump and Quincy Des Pictons has flown. He has gone about 15 lengths

:52:50.:52:55.

in front of of Chance du Roy. Followed then by Consigliere behind

:52:55.:52:58.

them and they were nicely clear of the others. One left to jump now

:52:58.:53:01.

and Quincy Des Pictons comes towards it and he is home for all

:53:01.:53:06.

money. He is over it by about eight lengths or so. In second is Chance

:53:06.:53:10.

du Roy and further back Consigliere, but this is a very easy win. It

:53:10.:53:14.

makes it a hat trick, Quincy Des Pictons, up to the line and he wins

:53:14.:53:18.

it well by about 15 lengths. Chance du Roy is second. It will be tight

:53:18.:53:23.

for third. Rattling home there on the inside Take The Breeze, but in

:53:23.:53:32.

the photo there with Consigliere. They were followed further back by

:53:32.:53:37.

Plein Pouvoir and Pigeon Island and followed by Nozic and they are the

:53:37.:53:40.

only finishers. The rest have been pulled up or failed to complete the

:53:40.:53:45.

course. There is the winner, number 14, Quincy Des Pictons, James Best.

:53:45.:53:49.

He went for home a long way out and he had them all stretching and

:53:49.:53:53.

struggling. There he is to the line. He won at

:53:54.:54:00.

Ludlow only a few days previously, six days ago and he has a lot in

:54:00.:54:05.

hand as he goes to the line to win it well. He was some way out of the

:54:05.:54:13.

handicap, but that was nullified by the 7 pound claim by James Best.

:54:13.:54:23.

Third number four, Consigliere and fourth Take The Breeze.

:54:23.:54:28.

Winning jockey James Best. Congratulations.

:54:28.:54:35.

This horse made your life very easy, especially the way he got into it?

:54:35.:54:42.

I got shuffled back a bit and I tried to hold on for as long as I

:54:43.:54:48.

could. Could you believe how far clear you

:54:48.:54:53.

were going down to the last? not at all. I'm delighted.

:54:53.:54:55.

Absolutely delighted, yeah. Brilliant.

:54:55.:55:03.

Well done, James. with little weight from Quincy Des

:55:03.:55:08.

Pictons trained in Somerset by Alan Jones and a huge day for him and

:55:09.:55:13.

for James Best who just fired him at these fences and the horse kept

:55:13.:55:19.

picking up for him. A mention for Chance du Roy who is carrying 11

:55:19.:55:23.

stone 12lbs and finishes second. That must have felt as if he was

:55:23.:55:29.

carrying a lumberjack on his back. Fair play to James Best. He is on a

:55:29.:55:33.

roll now. This is his third ride and his third win on the spin so he

:55:33.:55:37.

is flying. And big celebrations here.

:55:37.:55:47.

The trainer. A good good placing of the horse.

:55:47.:55:57.
:55:57.:56:01.

Peddler's Cross has been beaten at Jones there on the left and going

:56:01.:56:06.

over to talk to James Best. This horse won particularly well at

:56:06.:56:10.

Ludlow and even - ahead of the handicap at the moment. He has run

:56:10.:56:14.

from out of the handicap today, but rapidly rising through the ranks.

:56:14.:56:20.

It was a very, very sound performance today on a course that

:56:20.:56:27.

can really catch you out on a horse who doesn't know what he is doing.

:56:27.:56:31.

But this one does, he is a talent, that's for sure. Let's look at the

:56:31.:56:41.
:56:41.:56:42.

favourite was your winner. Second was Chance du Roy and third

:56:43.:56:50.

Consigliere. The punters have got plenty of

:56:50.:56:56.

money for the National, haven't they? They must have certainty when

:56:56.:57:02.

it won at Bangor. A bad day for the bookies so far!

:57:02.:57:07.

Here we go, the next race will be the Coral Welsh National. We have a

:57:07.:57:11.

field of 20 going to the post. It is a marathon distance. So much

:57:11.:57:16.

jumping to be done as well over these wonderful hills of Chepstow

:57:16.:57:20.

and the crowd is in full full force and full voice as well and they

:57:20.:57:26.

will be picking a horse they like the look of and maybe the trainer,

:57:26.:57:32.

Tim Vaughan or Wayne Hutchinson or Matty Bachelor been on board

:57:32.:57:37.

Carruthers. The jockeys have been out walking the course or running

:57:37.:57:44.

it. Lord Howard earlier presenting a cheque to Tanya Gray Gray

:57:45.:57:50.

Thompson. David Pipe there who has two runners. Could he win the race

:57:50.:57:58.

for the first time that his rather won five times in six years? Here

:57:58.:58:08.

is the line-up for the big one. There are 20 of them. One is Hey

:58:08.:58:18.
:58:18.:58:40.

Big Spender. He is ridden by Joe bounced back to winning form last

:58:40.:58:49.

month. Five is Galaxy Rock. He is trained by Jonjo O'Neill and won

:58:49.:58:59.
:58:59.:59:01.

this twice. Number six is Viking Blond and Sam

:59:01.:59:05.

Twiston-Davies at 19 takes his ride on this horse. Number seven is As

:59:05.:59:12.

De Fer. He won three of his last four. He is well handicapped.

:59:12.:59:16.

Number 8 is Giles Cross. He was arguably a tougher stayer in the

:59:16.:59:22.

field. He was second in the race last year.

:59:22.:59:32.
:59:32.:59:32.

Number nine is Or Noir de Somoza. Conor O'Farrell is in the saddle.

:59:32.:59:42.
:59:42.:59:43.

Number 10 is Any Currency. He was third at Sandown last time.

:59:43.:59:47.

11 is Knighton Combe and ridden by 16-year-old Brendan Powell,

:59:47.:59:56.

claiming a valuable 7lb. Number 12 is Cannington Brook who won a

:59:56.:00:02.

gruelling battle at Haydock only four days ago. He is a real stayer.

:00:02.:00:07.

Number 13, Le Beau Bai two of his last three wins was at Chepstow and

:00:07.:00:17.
:00:17.:00:20.

he was third in the 2009 Welsh National. 14 is Idifferent Curve --

:00:20.:00:26.

Indifference Curve. Number Number 15, Master Overseer,

:00:26.:00:36.
:00:36.:00:44.

a real stayer. 16 is Mumbles Head, David Crosse. Trained in Wales. 17

:00:44.:00:48.

is is Ballyfitz. He is a good stayer, but he will stay all day. A

:00:48.:00:55.

good each way chance. 18 is Our Island. Another stayer.

:00:55.:01:01.

He was Second at Haydock when they walked home last time. 19 is

:01:01.:01:08.

Heathcliff who last won over fences ten months ago, Tom Messenger takes

:01:08.:01:15.

the ride. And number 20 is Bench Warrent. He is 3lb out of the

:01:15.:01:25.
:01:25.:01:28.

handicap and run in this race here. We see Giles Cross is the 6-1

:01:28.:01:33.

favourite? Yes, if you have a bet with Corals if your horse finishes

:01:33.:01:40.

second to Giles Cross, you will get your money back. Second in is

:01:40.:01:50.
:01:50.:02:10.

win in this. Any of the outsiders you fancy? Not really. I said that

:02:10.:02:16.

once before in the National! The owner, 100-1 winner, she said, "You

:02:16.:02:26.

said my horse can't win!" "Sorry, love, I never meant it!" Look at

:02:26.:02:31.

the public trying to get a bet on this race. This is bigger than the

:02:31.:02:38.

Aintree National! Unbelievable. Just thinking about it, Tanni-Grey

:02:38.:02:48.
:02:48.:02:48.

Thompson wanted something in purple. But if you are going for emotion,

:02:49.:02:53.

the top story would be if Carruthers was to follow up his win

:02:53.:03:01.

at the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury. He was bred and is part owned by

:03:01.:03:05.

Lord Oaksey. When he became a writer and a broadcaster, was one

:03:05.:03:09.

of the greatest poets of racing. He really knew how to sell an occasion,

:03:09.:03:14.

he knew so much about horses and when he had retired from riding in

:03:14.:03:21.

races, he along with Brough Scott established the Injured Jockeys'

:03:21.:03:25.

Fund. He is one of the great figures of racing and age rather

:03:25.:03:30.

catching up with him now in that he is not getting out as much as he

:03:30.:03:36.

did. The one thing he knows is that Carruthers is his horse, Carruthers

:03:36.:03:41.

won the Hennessy, trained by his son-in-law and he is ridden every

:03:41.:03:51.
:03:51.:04:03.

We just adore him. You ride him every day? Yes. Who is the boss?

:04:03.:04:13.
:04:13.:04:13.

She is! LAUGHTER She tells you? do the mucking out! We decide

:04:13.:04:17.

together what we do. He has quite a big say in the matter. He wouldn't

:04:17.:04:22.

be a horse you would go, "Cor, that was an amazing piece of work." He

:04:22.:04:26.

will never be like that. The reason this story is so special is the man

:04:26.:04:31.

in shot, Lord Oaksey. He was a pioneer for the Injured Jockeys'

:04:31.:04:34.

Fund and it is a great sight to see him with the one thing he loves

:04:34.:04:38.

more than anything else in the world, Carruthers. He has done so

:04:38.:04:44.

much for the sport. He's a phenomenon for the sport. The idea

:04:44.:04:51.

was entirely to bring him something to enjoy when he got old. He's

:04:51.:04:57.

managed that! It's a story that started 53 years ago when Lord

:04:57.:05:02.

Oaksey dramatically won the Hennessy as an amateur. Before

:05:02.:05:08.

Carruthers repeated that success last month. COMMENTARY: He is not

:05:08.:05:18.

stopping, if anything he is going further clear! It is Carruthers for

:05:18.:05:21.

Mattie Batchelor! You dream of these things and then when it does

:05:21.:05:25.

happen, it seems amazing. It is pleasing to know that when I do get

:05:25.:05:32.

a good horse, I can do the job. was so thrilled for Mark and Sara

:05:32.:05:41.

and Mattie. They have made this horse. When you walk into Newbury,

:05:41.:05:51.
:05:51.:05:53.

you must puff your chest out a bit? Definitely. The jockeys were going

:05:53.:05:57.

mental for us! They love this horse. When you told John what was his

:05:57.:06:03.

response? I said, "Who has won the Hennessy?" He said, "Me!" When I

:06:03.:06:08.

show him the replay, he is very emotional. He did know, as you have

:06:08.:06:12.

seen today, he doesn't talk to us all that much, but he spoke in

:06:12.:06:17.

sentences that night. Every race is a big race. You have only had seven

:06:17.:06:22.

runners in total this year. We are only a small yard. We want a few

:06:22.:06:27.

more horses. It goes to show hopefully to Joe Public you don't

:06:27.:06:31.

have to send your horses to the big boys, we can do the business just

:06:31.:06:37.

as well as they can. We have got time to train every horse as an

:06:37.:06:40.

individual. That personal touch extends to an unusual regime for

:06:40.:06:45.

Carruthers where he is part of the furniture in his local village. You

:06:45.:06:51.

are holding on to him over a bridge, he is stood in the water like a

:06:51.:06:58.

saint. He is in here every day after exercise. Just to cool his

:06:58.:07:03.

legs down, stop any build-up of potential inflammation and loves it.

:07:03.:07:12.

It is a lot cheaper than buying a bloody spa! He is an incredible

:07:12.:07:16.

racehorse. But he is more determined than the rest. Take away

:07:16.:07:23.

the determination, he is 120 horse, he is more ordinary. The whole

:07:23.:07:31.

circle ranging from Sara's dad and Chicky, to Mattie, to Sara, to the

:07:31.:07:37.

whole yard, it is a big fairytale. There is Carruthers walking around

:07:37.:07:45.

the paddock. The man on board this afternoon is Mr Jester, how are

:07:45.:07:53.

you? Good. You? Good. Have a good Christmas? Yeah, plenty of

:07:53.:08:00.

puddings! Really? Yes. You are regarded as the fungi to have in

:08:00.:08:10.
:08:10.:08:11.

the weighing rooms? The people I take the mickey of wouldn't agree.

:08:11.:08:14.

If we are being serious for a moment, this horse, Carruthers,

:08:14.:08:20.

means a lot to you? He's give me some great days, there have not

:08:20.:08:26.

been many. Yeah, I hold him in high regard. The ground shouldn't be a

:08:26.:08:32.

problem to him. Shouldn't be a problem. The boys say it is not too

:08:32.:08:40.

bad down the back. What a Christmas it would be if you won the Welsh

:08:40.:08:45.

National? Exactly. I will have to buy some more presents! You better

:08:45.:08:55.
:08:55.:08:55.

win! Let's have a word with a couple of the guys, Denis O'Regan

:08:55.:09:00.

and Dougie Costello. What is this guy like to have in the weighing

:09:00.:09:07.

room? A pain in the backside! a legend. He's one of the nicest

:09:07.:09:12.

girls as well. Are you going to be able to beat him? Yes. What about

:09:12.:09:21.

you? Galaxy Rock won first time at Lingfield on soft ground. He will

:09:21.:09:26.

be OK. You have done very well to hold your nerve there. Good luck in

:09:26.:09:34.

the big race today. ALL: Cheers! Some great camaraderie amongst

:09:34.:09:38.

these jockeys. They know every time they go out to ride there is a

:09:39.:09:42.

danger they might not come back in one piece. There is no place for

:09:42.:09:47.

arrogance and that is why they are so generous and fun with each other

:09:47.:09:51.

and Joe Tizzard on the right and Wayne Hutchinson on the left coming

:09:51.:09:58.

out behind the Welsh Guard and the jockeys will make their way to the

:09:58.:10:01.

paddock. Most of the horses are already here in the parade ring for

:10:01.:10:11.

the crowd to get a good look at them. Mattie Batchelor already has

:10:11.:10:15.

his tinted goggles pulled down! is not taking any chances. That is

:10:15.:10:19.

what makes it so special. When he had that big win in the Hennessy,

:10:19.:10:23.

everybody cheered him in, whether it was Bangor or at Newbury, they

:10:23.:10:31.

wanted to see him win. Let's take a wander around the paddock. You see

:10:31.:10:37.

this magnificent suit! Any Currency is a horse that is owned by a team

:10:37.:10:43.

called Cash Is King. Very interesting suit. You have to make

:10:43.:10:51.

an effort! They charged me �5.70 to get in! Why Cash Is King for the

:10:51.:10:55.

owning syndicate, there is is a theme here? The boys like a bit of

:10:55.:11:00.

a punt. Hopefully, it will be cash we will be taking home today.

:11:00.:11:05.

you hopeful? Yes. He should run a big race. His form suggests he's

:11:05.:11:10.

second behind Midnight Chase at Cheltenham the year before last.

:11:10.:11:15.

He's had a year out with a tiny injury. He's come back to finish

:11:15.:11:20.

third at Sandown. Should be very good. Good luck to you. Your jockey

:11:20.:11:27.

will be making his way to you very shortly. They are posing for a

:11:27.:11:32.

photo. Jamie Snowdon is here, the trainer of Knighton Combe. Has

:11:32.:11:38.

already won a National? That's it. He won the Summer National. Had a

:11:38.:11:43.

prep run over hurdles a month ago. He is fit, he's well. Fingers

:11:43.:11:47.

crossed. Do you get nervous when it is a big day like this? Very

:11:47.:11:50.

nervous. We are only in our third season training. To run well in a

:11:50.:11:55.

race like this, if not win, would be phenomenal for our career.

:11:55.:12:01.

you have a youngster rider, is he too young to get nervous? Well, I

:12:01.:12:06.

hope so! LAUGHTER I'm certainly nervous. The reason for putting

:12:06.:12:16.

Brendan on is he is off 1-3-2 but Brendan takes seven off to take it

:12:16.:12:22.

back down to 2-2-5. He is not far off a winning mark. Listen, we wish

:12:22.:12:29.

you luck. Brendan Powell Junior is talking to the owners of Knighton

:12:29.:12:34.

Combe. We talked to him earlier. It would be an extraordinary story.

:12:34.:12:39.

The Nigel Twiston-Davies team. They have two runners, Mick. Sam

:12:39.:12:46.

Twiston-Davies, Nige is there, and Sam is riding Viking Blond who came

:12:46.:12:51.

into the paddock here and started bucking! He is fresh and well at

:12:51.:12:56.

home. Hopefully, as you can see, he is looking very well. He is a very

:12:56.:13:00.

flashy type! In terms of how he will run in the race, what are you

:13:00.:13:05.

expecting him to do? Hopefully, he will run a good race. All the signs

:13:05.:13:11.

say he will stay. He is only a novice. He has not made a mistake

:13:11.:13:14.

yet. David England is riding Ballyfitz. Not an awful lot of

:13:14.:13:20.

weight so you have to fancy yourself? I would do. Everyone says

:13:20.:13:24.

he doesn't jump that great, but he has been jumping well recently. We

:13:24.:13:30.

fancy him. Hopefully, we will go close. Sit tight, enjoy it. Hopeful.

:13:30.:13:37.

Thank you. There are so many good horses in the paddock. I mentioned

:13:37.:13:40.

Cappa Bleu earlier on. Richard Dunwoody has had a good look at

:13:40.:13:45.

them and wanted to mention Cappa Bleu independent of me. He does

:13:45.:13:51.

look very well? Yeah. Certainly if he is back to his very best today,

:13:51.:13:55.

he's got a decent chance. He won last time out after a year-and-a-

:13:55.:14:00.

half off the course and he won on the same day Kauto Star won the

:14:00.:14:10.
:14:10.:14:11.

Betfair Chase. What do you think? Here is Viking Blond. He is my pick

:14:12.:14:18.

in the paddock. He's bucking and kicking. I am looking forward to

:14:18.:14:24.

seeing him. He is only a six-year- old. Giles Cross is coming round,

:14:24.:14:30.

horse number eight. He is just on the left. What did you make of him?

:14:30.:14:37.

He looked well. That was a great run at Fontwell. OK. We can get the

:14:37.:14:41.

inside track on Giles Cross because not only have I got his trainer,

:14:41.:14:46.

but I have his breeder, who is one of the owners. When he was first

:14:46.:14:51.

born, did you think this one might be special? No! What did you think?

:14:51.:14:56.

What did I think? I thought thank God he's come out with all four

:14:57.:15:00.

feet poking forwards! What does it feel like to be here as favourite

:15:00.:15:05.

for the Welsh National? Amazing. I have had horses for 25 years and

:15:05.:15:10.

this is obviously the best of them. Victor, what do you think of his

:15:10.:15:14.

chances? He loves Chepstow, he loves the ground. He has every

:15:14.:15:18.

chance. I can't help think that there is one or two of the horses

:15:18.:15:23.

lower down the weights that might be more of a problem. We will see.

:15:23.:15:28.

That is the trouble in this sort of ground, weight can take its toll?

:15:28.:15:33.

Yes. There's a bit of class in this race as well, with Carruthers. It

:15:33.:15:37.

will be a good race. It will. Good luck to you with Giles Cross.

:15:37.:15:47.
:15:47.:16:07.

you. Giles Cross is your favourite horses backed, John. There's eight

:16:07.:16:11.

or nine horses all being backed for money. The crowd are backing

:16:11.:16:15.

anything! Anything can win. We have said this earlier - this is a great

:16:15.:16:19.

race. The punters don't know who is going to win. All the money is each

:16:19.:16:28.

way. They are picking 20-1 chances. Anything can win, John. Well, they

:16:28.:16:31.

are getting ready to parade in front of the grandstand, these 20

:16:31.:16:35.

runners and this a race that has extraordinary history. It was first

:16:35.:16:41.

run at Ely Racecourse in Cardiff in 1895 and then transferred here to

:16:41.:16:47.

Chepstow in 1949 and the first running here was won by Dick

:16:47.:16:57.

Francis. Many of his novels based on racing. Great horses who have

:16:57.:17:04.

won the Welsh National include Silver Birch, who won in 2004 and

:17:04.:17:14.
:17:14.:17:22.

then won the Grand National in 2007. So, the Parade is led by the horse

:17:22.:17:29.

who carries top weight at 11 stone 12. That is Hey Big Spender. Horse

:17:29.:17:37.

two is Carruthers. This is the fairytale horse. Blazing Bailey is

:17:37.:17:41.

number three. He was a good horse over hurdles. He has some form over

:17:41.:17:46.

fences as well. Watch out for him. Wayne Hutchinson on board. Horse

:17:46.:17:52.

four, Cappa Bleu. This horse won the FoxHunters. A very good horse

:17:52.:18:00.

on his day. Jonjo O'Neill won the Welsh National last year but relies

:18:00.:18:07.

on this horse, Galaxy Rock. Six is Viking Blond. This horse has a good

:18:07.:18:17.
:18:17.:18:20.

chance. Big day for trainer Antony Honeyball, with As De Fer. Giles

:18:20.:18:30.

Cross. David Pipe has two runners, the first is Or Noir de Somoza.

:18:30.:18:38.

is Any Currency. This one trained by Martin Keighley. This horse is

:18:38.:18:42.

fancied. Youngest jockey in the race is 16-year-old Brendan Powell

:18:42.:18:48.

Junior. He is on board Knighton Combe. Next horse is Cannington

:18:48.:18:51.

Brook. This horse is a good game winner last time in very heavy

:18:51.:18:56.

ground. This horse will love the conditions. Le Beau Bai was third

:18:56.:19:03.

in this race in 2009. He could be close again. Indifference Curve,

:19:03.:19:08.

the mount of Will Kennedy. Winner yesterday for Will Kennedy. This

:19:08.:19:16.

one trained by Margaret O'Sullivan. Master Overseer, it looks to be the

:19:16.:19:23.

second of David Pipe's two runners. Mumbles Head trained by Peter Bowen.

:19:23.:19:30.

David Crosse does an amazing blog every week! Ballyfitz, the lower-

:19:30.:19:36.

weighted of the Nigel Twiston- Davies' runners. David England is

:19:36.:19:40.

hopeful. 18 is Our Island, trained by Tim Vaughan, the mount of Aidan

:19:40.:19:45.

Coleman. Already a winner today. All of these ones down the bottom

:19:45.:19:53.

are racing off 10 stone and Heathcliff, the second of Richard

:19:53.:19:59.

Lea's runners. The last one out is Bench Warrent. This is the mount of

:19:59.:20:04.

Gavin Sheehan. He is claiming ten pounds off ten stone. So riding

:20:04.:20:11.

with nothing! 9 stone 4 pound. great effort to be able to do that

:20:12.:20:16.

weight! Jump jockeys are not tiny people. They are proper size. These

:20:16.:20:21.

horses all having a look at the first - what will be the last fence

:20:21.:20:25.

in fact. They start in front of the last and it is a short run to the

:20:25.:20:29.

first bend and you are seeing the beautiful head of Cappa Bleu having

:20:29.:20:35.

a look. We are going to hear shortly the Welsh National Anthem

:20:35.:20:44.

to get us all in the mood. Great sound, great atmosphere at Chepstow.

:20:44.:20:54.
:20:54.:20:54.

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 80 seconds

:20:54.:21:38.

They are making sure you have the feel of a big event. # Mae hen wlad

:21:39.:21:42.

fy nhadau yn annwyl i mi # Gwlad beirdd a chantorion,

:21:42.:21:52.
:21:52.:21:57.

enwogion o fri; # Ei gwrol ryfelwyr, gwladgarwyr tra md,

:21:57.:22:07.
:22:07.:22:19.

# Dros ryddid collasant eu gwaed. # Gwlad, gwlad, pleidiol wyf i'm

:22:19.:22:22.

gwlad. # Tra mor yn fur i'r bur hoff bau,

:22:22.:22:32.
:22:32.:22:43.

The applause rings out for 21-year- old Sarah Kemp who sang here last

:22:43.:22:53.
:22:53.:22:53.

year and gets a rousing reception. A wonderful voice. In the meantime,

:22:53.:22:58.

the runners are arriving down at the start point. Let's have a look

:22:58.:23:02.

and see whether Viking Blond or Giles Cross is going to go off as

:23:02.:23:07.

favourite. Looks like the money has come for Viking Blond? Certainly

:23:07.:23:17.
:23:17.:23:19.

has. Viking Blond is now favourite was the horse overnight for money.

:23:19.:23:23.

We heard the Welsh anthem and Corals, if we do have a Welsh-

:23:23.:23:29.

trained winner 9-1. How many Welsh horses? Three horses. Cappa Bleu,

:23:30.:23:38.

Mumbles Head and? A good question! LAUGHTER Our Island! 9-1. Well

:23:38.:23:41.

done! Our Island trained by Tim Vaughan. Those are the Welsh

:23:41.:23:46.

chances. A lot of horses are trained very close in Herefordshire

:23:46.:23:52.

or not too far over the Severn Bridge. It is right in front of the

:23:52.:23:56.

grandstand, the start. So, Richard Dunwoody, you can hear all the

:23:56.:23:59.

jockeys chatting to each other. There is Nigel Twiston-Davies. He

:23:59.:24:03.

will be looking out for Viking Blond and for Ballyfitz. Sam

:24:03.:24:08.

Twiston-Davies keeping out the back on Viking Blond? He has his two

:24:08.:24:13.

horses looking really well. I am looking forward to a big run from

:24:13.:24:22.

this horse. You can feel the tension down here. Looking pretty

:24:22.:24:32.
:24:32.:24:33.

cool is Matthew Batchelor on board Carruthers. He's had his tinted

:24:33.:24:36.

goggles down ever since he came out of the weighing room. He knows he

:24:36.:24:40.

has a horse that can deal with this. The lads are all getting a bit

:24:40.:24:50.
:24:50.:24:52.

excited, Clare. The pressure is beginning to build. They are

:24:52.:24:55.

tightening the girth on Indifference Curve, who is in front

:24:55.:25:04.

of us here. It looks like - Any Currency is rearing up and being a

:25:05.:25:11.

little tricky. The starter is going to make his way to the rostrum. So

:25:11.:25:17.

we will join Jim McGrath. So, they are coming in now. Mick is

:25:17.:25:22.

joining me here. They are very much on edge, the jockeys. They are

:25:22.:25:26.

anxious to get that early position? They start underneath the stands so

:25:26.:25:30.

the people are close to the action. You can almost feel the tension.

:25:30.:25:38.

The starter has got nowhere near that stand. They won't start for a

:25:38.:25:43.

while. Look at how the boys are playing musical chairs. Trying to

:25:43.:25:47.

sort out some sort of a pecking order. It is a very short run, it

:25:47.:25:52.

is 150 yards to that first turn. Also some horses have a tendency to

:25:52.:25:57.

duck out. You have to watch that? You have to be very aware of it as

:25:57.:26:02.

well. One or two guys will dive up the inside. You get one diving up

:26:02.:26:06.

the inside and it is a recipe for disaster. The runners are turning.

:26:06.:26:10.

They are in the hands of the starter. He wants them to settle

:26:10.:26:14.

down a bit. You can see they are very keen. It is like the start of

:26:14.:26:19.

the first race at Cheltenham. They are all on their toes. All fired up.

:26:20.:26:29.

He is saying, "Settle down!" It's fallen on deaf ears. When you are

:26:29.:26:33.

out there and your blood is pumping, you want to get on with it. You do

:26:33.:26:38.

not want to miss the start. It is imperative you get a good position

:26:38.:26:43.

even in a race over three miles five-and-a-half furlongs. Any

:26:43.:26:47.

Currency - there is no doubt that he wants to be there. He wants to

:26:48.:26:55.

be in that lead. He does. You can see Simon is trying to make his way

:26:55.:26:58.

on to that rostrum. The guys are making life very difficult. They

:26:58.:27:05.

are trying to crowd that tape. is up there now! That's it. They

:27:05.:27:10.

are off and running. This is the Coral Welsh National Handicap Chase,

:27:10.:27:15.

20 runners charging downhill. 150 yards to the first turn. Holding

:27:15.:27:23.

the inside is Giles Cross, Le Beau Bai is wider, just behind them is

:27:23.:27:27.

Bench Warrent. They charge around that turn. Further back in the

:27:27.:27:30.

field is Any Currency, he is getting a handy position but he has

:27:30.:27:35.

had to work fairly hard to get it. Behind them is Viking Blond,

:27:35.:27:41.

followed by Our Island, As De Fer, Master Overseer, Carruthers being

:27:41.:27:45.

scrubbed up early to try and hole his position. Well back in the

:27:45.:27:51.

field is Indifference Curve, he is well out the back, so too is Or

:27:51.:27:54.

Noir de Somoza and Ballyfitz has almost tailed off. Heading to the

:27:54.:27:59.

back, they jump 22 fences. Giles Cross, second last year, led to the

:28:00.:28:04.

first, all jumping it well, Ballyfitz in last position. Up in

:28:04.:28:09.

second is Le Beau Bai, followed in third by Bench Warrent, the inside

:28:09.:28:14.

- they go to the open ditch - Any Currency out deeper on the track,

:28:14.:28:18.

Viking Blond was not that fluent, then Our Island, from As De Fer,

:28:18.:28:26.

that go over the third. Nurt back is -- further back is Cappa Bleu.

:28:27.:28:30.

Out very wide is Indifference Curve. Galaxy Rock is not that far away as

:28:30.:28:36.

they go to the fourth now. Further back in the field - Or Noir de

:28:36.:28:40.

Somoza is second last and last is Ballyfitz. Heading down towards the

:28:40.:28:44.

fifth fence and Le Beau Bai joins Giles Cross in the lead. Two

:28:44.:28:48.

lengths away in third is Any Currency, followed by Bench Warrent,

:28:48.:28:54.

from Our Island, As De Fer behind them, Galaxy Rock is out very wide,

:28:54.:28:58.

right there in the centre is Viking Blond as they head now towards the

:28:58.:29:06.

last one down the back. They were followed by Cappa Bleu, Carruthers

:29:06.:29:07.

back in the field Master Overseer with the yellow sleeves and cap

:29:07.:29:11.

right in the middle of the pack from Blazing Bailey and then

:29:11.:29:15.

Cannington Brook, then on the inside is Hey Big Spender, they

:29:15.:29:19.

were followed back at this stage by Heathcliff, giving them a long

:29:19.:29:22.

start as they prepare to leave the back, and in the centre Knighton

:29:23.:29:27.

Combe being ridden by the youngest rider, Brendan Powell, right in the

:29:27.:29:30.

middle of the pack. Mumbles Head about third last. Sweeping now

:29:30.:29:35.

around that bend towards the home turn for the first time and Giles

:29:35.:29:40.

Cross, a half length to Le Beau Bai, behind them is As De Fer, followed

:29:40.:29:43.

by Any Currency, next is Our Island. Further back on the inside

:29:43.:29:47.

Carruthers, ridden along and now starting to make a little bit of

:29:47.:29:51.

ground followed by Viking Blond. They were followed then by Bench

:29:51.:29:56.

Warrent. They come to the seventh. Out wide Galaxy Rock jumped it well,

:29:56.:30:00.

being tracked by the Irish raider Indifference Curve. Starting to

:30:00.:30:05.

make some ground now, Master Overseer, followed by Knighton

:30:05.:30:09.

Combe as they head over that one, the second ditch. Then back towards

:30:09.:30:15.

the rear, we have lost one there. They head down towards the next one,

:30:15.:30:20.

looking down the track there and it looks like Master Overseer, Master

:30:20.:30:23.

Overseer I think - no, it is Mumbles Head. Mumbles Head has gone.

:30:23.:30:29.

They race up now, the home straight, the first time, it is Giles Cross,

:30:29.:30:33.

the leader, from Le Beau Bai and then As De Fer, Our Island, over

:30:33.:30:36.

the tenth. Any Currency and Galaxy Rock. They are followed by

:30:36.:30:40.

Indifference Curve, out wider, further back in the field is Viking

:30:40.:30:44.

Blond from Cappa Bleu. They come now to the next. In the centre

:30:44.:30:48.

Knighton Combe, followed by Master Overseer and Blazing Bailey out

:30:48.:30:52.

wide. Heathcliff is next. They are followed by Bench Warrent and

:30:52.:30:55.

Cannington Brook and Carruthers run-off his feet, he's dropped back

:30:55.:31:03.

to fourth last, followed by Hey Big Spender and Ballyfitz. Giles Cross

:31:04.:31:13.
:31:14.:31:26.

leads them down to the stable bend Carruthers, Mattie Bachelor is

:31:26.:31:29.

desperate to get him off the inside. Is not jumping well and he needs to

:31:29.:31:32.

get him outside with a bit of daylight and he may pick up.

:31:32.:31:35.

As they start the climb towards the back for the second and the final

:31:35.:31:38.

time, Galaxy Rock in the red cap has just been ridden along.

:31:38.:31:42.

Knighton Combe is starting to make ground for 16-year-old Brendan

:31:42.:31:45.

Powell as they start to run-down the back. There is Carruthers, red

:31:45.:31:49.

sleeves and cap and he maybe starting to pick up again, but as

:31:49.:31:54.

Mick said, he has got to get off the inside. The leaders are Le Beau

:31:54.:32:04.
:32:04.:32:06.

Bai and Giles Cross by two or three lengths and in third place As De

:32:06.:32:12.

Fer. Followed by Knighton Combe. He is getting a real tune out of this.

:32:12.:32:17.

Then followed by Heathcliff and gone there is Hey Big Spender. Hey

:32:17.:32:23.

Big Spender a heavy faller there as they head now towards the 13th. The

:32:23.:32:30.

leaders, Giles Cross and Le Beau Bai. They are followed by Knighton

:32:30.:32:35.

Combe as they start to run-down to the next one. The next plain fence,

:32:35.:32:39.

Knighton Combe got in a fraction tight and Any Currency is further

:32:39.:32:44.

back in the field. But as they prepare now and as they head

:32:44.:32:48.

towards the second last one down the back, and the leaders Giles

:32:48.:32:58.
:32:58.:33:03.

Cross and on the outside Le Beau Bai, and and this is the last one.

:33:03.:33:07.

The leaders jump it well and they are really strung out, but it is

:33:07.:33:13.

Giles Cross who was second last year trying to hang on from Le Beau

:33:13.:33:20.

Bai. Falling is As De Fer, but Giles Cross has really got gas left.

:33:20.:33:30.
:33:30.:33:31.

He is loving it here as well. You can see Charlie on Le Beau Bai. He

:33:31.:33:38.

looks comfortable. As they round the turn and it is

:33:38.:33:45.

Giles Cross, the leader by two lengths. Six lengths away As De Fer

:33:46.:33:51.

and Cannington Brook and followed by Bench Warrent and also Knighton

:33:51.:34:01.
:34:01.:34:06.

Combe. Giles Cross Flew it. As De Fer and Denis owe Denis owe-ry

:34:06.:34:13.

began. A long gap to the chasing pack headed by As De Fer. They race

:34:13.:34:21.

up towards the last lap. He comes towards the third last. He is over

:34:21.:34:31.
:34:31.:34:32.

it, two-and-a-half lengths clear. Le Beau Bai and Le Beau Bai racing

:34:32.:34:40.

and Giles Cross. Le Beau Bai has taken it up. It is Le Beau Bai by

:34:40.:34:46.

two lengths as they come towards the last. He steadies. He is over.

:34:46.:34:50.

Le Beau Bai he is three lengths in front now. Giles Cross coming back

:34:50.:34:57.

for more. Le Beau Bai is clinging and Le Beau Bai is going on to win

:34:57.:35:07.
:35:07.:35:26.

it well and he wins it. A Welsh National victory for victor Lee.

:35:26.:35:34.

The winner is number 13, Le Beau Bai ridden by Charlie Post, the 10-

:35:35.:35:41.

1 winner of the Coral Welsh National. Second is number 8 and

:35:41.:35:51.
:35:51.:35:51.

third is number 4, and fourth, Bench Warrent.

:35:51.:35:56.

What a performance. What a staying performance by this winner.

:35:56.:36:00.

He has given a great ride by Charlie Post. He is very much a

:36:01.:36:04.

journey man jockey. This is his ninth winner of the season, but you

:36:04.:36:08.

can see what it means and the other lads are congratulating him because

:36:08.:36:15.

they know what it is like for a guy who works as tirelessly as he does.

:36:15.:36:25.
:36:25.:36:46.

Giles Cross run second last year. Le Beau Bai... It is heartbreaking

:36:46.:36:51.

for Giles Cross. Richard Lee, he had many, many good horses over 5

:36:51.:36:57.

years -- 25 years and probably a little bit less so in recent years,

:36:57.:37:02.

but you go back to those great horses in the 80s that he had and

:37:02.:37:05.

90s. He has been a good man for a chaser.

:37:05.:37:10.

He has done brilliantly with these staying chasers, but this horse

:37:10.:37:14.

looked a picture before and he run like it.

:37:14.:37:24.
:37:24.:37:29.

Le Beau Bai 10-1, Giles Cross second.

:37:29.:37:35.

For Charlie Post a Dave his life to remember. Le Beau Bai third in 2009

:37:35.:37:45.
:37:45.:37:46.

and comes here as the winner of the 201 1 Welsh National. He will get a

:37:46.:37:50.

huge reception as he comes into the Winner's Enclosure.

:37:50.:38:00.
:38:00.:38:03.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE The owner's glass halfful, what a

:38:03.:38:06.

great name for a racing partnership. It is a glass full to overflowing

:38:06.:38:11.

today! Charlie takes off the tiny saddle.

:38:11.:38:19.

He is only an eight-year-old and Le Beau Bai has answered every call. A

:38:19.:38:25.

lovely bit of waiting, Richard Dunwoody is watching this with me.

:38:25.:38:30.

He stayed behind Giles Cross. Let's hear from the winning jockey,

:38:30.:38:34.

Charlie Post. What a fantastic success? Yeah,

:38:34.:38:40.

brilliant. He has been a good servant to me. A fantastic boy and

:38:40.:38:45.

he was so great today. Brilliant. Charlie, we're going to get run

:38:45.:38:49.

over by the second horse. Just take us through the way he battled

:38:49.:38:55.

because when Giles Cross took over in the strait, the crowd roared.

:38:55.:39:01.

Before I spoke to the owners, I picked out Giles Cross as the one

:39:01.:39:05.

it make. I thought I would follow him and even when Giles Cross got

:39:05.:39:11.

away from me and he had a lot of light-weight on his back, my guy. I

:39:11.:39:15.

never thought it was a foregone conclusion. What does this victory

:39:15.:39:19.

mean? Hopefully it will make a big difference to the career of Charlie

:39:19.:39:25.

Post. You need days like this and and that's what you're working for,

:39:25.:39:29.

days like this. The winning trainer.

:39:29.:39:33.

One of the high points in your training career? I suppose it is.

:39:33.:39:38.

It is a race I always wanted to win. We didn't run in it last year. We

:39:38.:39:44.

were third in it two years. It went according to plan today, didn't it?

:39:44.:39:54.
:39:54.:39:55.

I worried that the ground wasn't going to be soft enough for him. It

:39:55.:40:00.

was soft enough for him and wasn't he brave? Charlie got some great,

:40:00.:40:06.

great leaps out of him, you know. It has all come true. It is a

:40:06.:40:11.

fairytale for us and we train on the Welsh borders so to come here

:40:11.:40:17.

and win the Welsh National is fan tast tast is fantastic.

:40:17.:40:23.

We are going to to show you celebrating the closing stages.

:40:23.:40:28.

What are you thinking? I hope he is going to hang on. Surely, it is not

:40:28.:40:38.
:40:38.:40:45.

going to happen. My wife was there with me. I think to be fair Jake

:40:45.:40:52.

said to ride him with a pair of blinds on. Jake has ridden him in

:40:52.:40:57.

the past and Charlie has ridden him today. Charlie is a great, great

:40:57.:41:01.

team player and thank you, Charlie. Congratulations. Well done.

:41:01.:41:11.
:41:11.:41:25.

great form all season and Le Beau loved the track and the grown and

:41:25.:41:33.

they made it a proper gallop. John, I was was speechless. I

:41:33.:41:37.

thought there there would be money for Le Beau Bai. A winner is a

:41:37.:41:44.

winner. What a great race. Well done, Richard Lee.

:41:44.:41:51.

I have Mattie Bachelor. Mattie, it did happen today? I was jumping

:41:51.:41:55.

very big. It is not him at all. He is slick and he is very good and

:41:55.:42:00.

every time I tried to make grown and get her the the -- ground, he

:42:00.:42:05.

didn't do it as he did in the Hennessy. You have got to be 110%

:42:05.:42:08.

on these days. It wasn't his day today.

:42:08.:42:12.

Everywhere you went today, you seemed to be crowded by horse and

:42:12.:42:19.

he didn't seem comfortable. That's big - the Hennessy I was

:42:19.:42:27.

going forward. Today, I am never going forward, I am making two two

:42:27.:42:33.

steps forward and two steps back. A lovely day for Charlie Post. I'm

:42:33.:42:37.

really pleased for him and I'll go and give him a big kiss now!

:42:37.:42:42.

He will and all! A word for Giles Cross second for

:42:42.:42:46.

the second year running and the two of them dominated for a long way

:42:46.:42:51.

out. They were Always Right up there and as we join them on the

:42:51.:42:58.

back strait, you were thinking, "There is only two horses in it.".

:42:58.:43:02.

There was two horses for a long way out and Le Beau Bai jumped superb

:43:02.:43:05.

and it is Giles Cross has set the the race up for him. He kicked

:43:05.:43:12.

turning in. He jumped the strait strait very well and I thought he

:43:12.:43:16.

might last, but he has given Le Beau Bai a good lead.

:43:16.:43:26.
:43:26.:43:30.

Giles Cross in front and Denis O' Reagan there. I said this a couple

:43:30.:43:34.

of years ago, he is not the most impressive horse to look at Le Beau

:43:34.:43:38.

Bai, but he has a heart as big as any horse and he really did jump

:43:38.:43:42.

well. Yeah, great credit to the team.

:43:42.:43:46.

For those jockeys thinking these two might come back to us, it wean

:43:47.:43:54.

going to happen. Le Beau Bai came across him and Charlie making sure

:43:54.:43:59.

he had the rail. He has been given a chance by the handicap. He is an

:43:59.:44:09.
:44:09.:44:09.

eight-year-old. As a six-year-old he ran off one, four, three.

:44:09.:44:16.

As Richard Lee mentioned, the bright blue blinkers helping him

:44:16.:44:19.

concentrate. Yes, keeping his mind on the job.

:44:19.:44:25.

Yes, a great race. We talked beforehand about what a

:44:25.:44:28.

test of stamina this is. You can see it there, the horse is going

:44:28.:44:35.

down the back strait, you are thinking, "We will get a lot of

:44:35.:44:39.

finishes here." This could be any one in it with three to jump. But

:44:39.:44:49.
:44:49.:44:58.

the front two took the sting out of the race. Keep your eyes on Cappa

:44:58.:45:02.

Bleu, he is one for the future. Carruthers was never really

:45:02.:45:11.

travelling. He got interfered on the bend and Hey Big Spender fell

:45:12.:45:18.

in front of him as well. They had to jump 22 fences out

:45:18.:45:23.

there and you have got to try and meet every one right. If you are

:45:23.:45:29.

thinking, "What are the fences made of? How are they built?" We can

:45:29.:45:39.
:45:39.:45:42.

best in the country, Thans thanks to the men who build them.

:45:42.:45:46.

Just tell us what you are doing at the moment? I'm just taking the

:45:47.:45:50.

bundles, we haven't got much room in there so we have got to make

:45:50.:45:59.

them narrower at the bottom. You have got to fill that out.

:45:59.:46:04.

That's a lovely job. Brilliant job. This is half a fence here, right?

:46:04.:46:11.

Yeah. How many of these bunches of birch would you need to... 400 to

:46:11.:46:15.

500. It depends how big the bundles are minute.

:46:15.:46:21.

-- mind. Tell us what goes into create ago

:46:21.:46:26.

magnificent creature of a fence? you have seen with Alan and Craig,

:46:26.:46:30.

they will spend all summer renewing half the fences we have got at

:46:30.:46:34.

Chepstow one year which will be six and the following year they will do

:46:34.:46:37.

five so they are never more than two years old.

:46:37.:46:41.

What's the ethos behind creating this shape? It is four foot six

:46:41.:46:45.

high at the top and six feet high from the take off board to the back

:46:46.:46:50.

of the fence. We shape it in the same direction so if a horse does

:46:50.:46:55.

catch t the fence is going in in the same way as the horses so he is

:46:55.:47:00.

not hitting a brick wall. To To get an idea of how stiff it

:47:00.:47:04.

is this size? If you lean into this, you can give it a good shift. That

:47:04.:47:11.

really is not a stiff fence. You notice some tracks and you wouldn't

:47:11.:47:15.

be able to move them. The birch is stacked in. So it is

:47:15.:47:25.
:47:25.:47:50.

height? That's all right, we'll take a bit more off anyway. It is

:47:50.:47:59.

good for the first time, yeah. Now we are at the takeoff side and

:47:59.:48:06.

you heard commentators say, "He has taken off" even before he has got

:48:06.:48:11.

to the wings of the fence. Like Desert Orchid and Kauto Star,

:48:11.:48:16.

there will be another four meters to the takeoff board. The Chepstow

:48:16.:48:20.

fences, they are similar dimensions to everywhere else, but they have

:48:20.:48:25.

been built in a style by Craig and Alan over 30 years, that they are

:48:25.:48:30.

an old-fashioned style. It is like thatching a roof on a house. These

:48:31.:48:36.

are almost a large work of art and jumping these fences are one of the

:48:36.:48:38.

most exhilarating things in the sport.

:48:38.:48:43.

It was a fascinating morning seeing how a fence is put together. Alan

:48:43.:48:48.

and Craig have been at Chepstow for a long period of time. You have

:48:48.:48:54.

experienced their work and Chepstow is regarded as a safe jumper?

:48:54.:49:00.

are good fences. Not too hard and not too soft. That's important,

:49:00.:49:04.

horses get lower and try to get away and they go to another track

:49:04.:49:08.

and turn over. The jockeys don't like the fences to be too soft. I

:49:08.:49:11.

am grateful that you are not building them around here here as

:49:11.:49:16.

well! High hedge cutting was -- my hedge

:49:16.:49:20.

cutting was awkward. At Chepstow, I thought they lasted

:49:20.:49:25.

a long time. But they change them every two years. They change five

:49:25.:49:29.

after one summer and change the other six after the next summer.

:49:29.:49:36.

They thet turned over a -- get turned over a lot? The birch, it

:49:36.:49:43.

takes more of a nudge and the fences get stiffer as the birch

:49:43.:49:47.

gets stiffer. We are looking ahead to 2012,

:49:47.:49:53.

looking at potential human and equine stars. I picked out one,

:49:53.:50:00.

Brendan Powell Junior. He is only 16. He has ridden 15 winners. He

:50:00.:50:10.
:50:10.:50:11.

had a winner. You picked out one for us.

:50:11.:50:15.

Jack Cidland. Look out for them.

:50:15.:50:22.

Let's can join join John and Gary. Gary, what have you come up with?

:50:22.:50:27.

I'm going to go for me old favourite. Every year I have a go

:50:27.:50:32.

and Andy Murray to win Wimbledon. I think he is a big prize, Annie

:50:32.:50:39.

Murray and AP McCoy -- Andy Murray and AP McCoy to ride the Grand

:50:39.:50:46.

National winner. If he has a ride it will only be 10-1. And England

:50:46.:50:55.

to win 2012. Clare Balding to win Strictly Come

:50:55.:51:00.

Dancing and if she went on what would you give her, Gary? Seven.

:51:00.:51:10.
:51:10.:51:11.

I would give you 1,000-1. Any number you like, 1,000-1!

:51:11.:51:15.

Mick Fitzgerald is alongside me. In terms of horses, I guess for

:51:15.:51:19.

jumping we are looking forward to seeing Kauto Star when it comes to

:51:19.:51:23.

the Cheltenham Cheltenham Gold Cup? Cheltenham is three months away and

:51:23.:51:26.

already we're talking about it and that's the great thing about racing.

:51:26.:51:34.

There is a buzz about it and so it should.

:51:34.:51:44.
:51:44.:51:46.

In terms of the novices, would you if you were David Be thinking of

:51:46.:51:55.

running Grand Crewe in the Gold Cup? No. There is a good horse

:51:55.:52:01.

called Joined Together, trained by Paul Nichols, but the horse that

:52:01.:52:11.
:52:11.:52:12.

won earlier beat Peddler's Cross. Looking ahead to the Derby and

:52:12.:52:18.

Royal Ascot, I can't wait to see Frankel running over a mile and a a

:52:18.:52:27.

quarter. He set the place alight and the place is buzzing. Sir Sir

:52:27.:52:37.
:52:37.:52:43.

Henry Cecil what a great story. Good horses have great names and

:52:43.:52:51.

Camelot. Mattie Bachelor was promising to

:52:51.:52:57.

give Charles ci a kiss -- Charlie a kiss.

:52:58.:53:04.

You must miss that feeling? There is Charlie Post receiving his

:53:04.:53:11.

trophy. Richard Lee just over his shoulder and the owners, the

:53:11.:53:15.

partnership, up there representing the Glass, as I was saying, it is

:53:15.:53:21.

full to overflowing! We have one more live race to come

:53:21.:53:31.
:53:31.:53:33.

and it is the scar the Coral Future Champions Finale.

:53:33.:53:43.
:53:43.:54:22.

The punters seem to have come for Hollow Tree. School For Scandal 14-

:54:23.:54:32.
:54:33.:54:39.

I said John, give me a winner. Richard and I are looking at Hollow

:54:39.:54:43.

Tree. This race is for three-year- olds. He has got size about him

:54:43.:54:47.

already? Yes, he is a nice little horse and he has got the form, I

:54:47.:54:53.

think. That run behind him at Cheltenham. Paul Nichols thinks

:54:53.:54:57.

that's one of the best three-year- olds he has got. Hollow Tree will

:54:57.:55:03.

take all the beating. This looks at Kapga De Cerisy, it

:55:03.:55:07.

is a horse that cost a lot of money. 200,000 euros and you noi about his

:55:07.:55:13.

-- you know about his form in France? He finished second this

:55:13.:55:17.

season, in September. He looks in great shape.

:55:17.:55:23.

He looks in really great shape and he will handle the grown anyway.

:55:23.:55:26.

That's -- ground anyway. That's one thing he will do.

:55:26.:55:31.

Would he be the pick of the paddock? Yes, he is the pick for me.

:55:31.:55:37.

Let's look at horse number eight, that's School For Scandal. School

:55:37.:55:43.

For Scandal's trainer Jim Best is hoping to land his his first grade

:55:44.:55:48.

one victory. He has his blinkers on and it will

:55:48.:55:53.

help him. Mark Johnson had this horse. He is a tough little horse

:55:53.:55:57.

and you can see him running a good race today.

:55:57.:56:02.

He won first on the hurledles and - - hurledles and they have put the

:56:02.:56:08.

head gear on to and I imagine that will rediscover what he first time.

:56:08.:56:12.

He could put in a big run. I think the horses are about to

:56:12.:56:19.

leave the paddock. Pick of the paddock probably Kapga De Cerisy?

:56:19.:56:29.
:56:29.:56:39.

will go with him, Ritchie. with sad faces. The bookies have

:56:40.:56:49.
:56:50.:56:50.

taken a bashing. There is money for Countrywide Flame.

:56:50.:56:55.

Mick, when you are riding three- year-olds and obviously some of

:56:55.:57:01.

them have run more than others, Captain Sharpe has run loads of

:57:01.:57:05.

times how quick do you know whether one is a natural jumper? Very

:57:05.:57:08.

quickly. Trust me. Especially if you have never ridden it before,

:57:08.:57:12.

you know by the time you jump the first whether a horse is going to

:57:12.:57:19.

be good good or not, especially at Chepstow. That's why French breds

:57:19.:57:25.

have a good record at Chepstow because it is so demanding. Some

:57:25.:57:32.

are like teenagers taking on grown men.

:57:32.:57:40.

Some work and others don't. This is Countrywide Flame for John

:57:40.:57:45.

Quinn. It is going to be interesting this

:57:45.:57:49.

because although Hollow Tree is a hot favourite, we have seen one

:57:49.:57:53.

mistake can make a difference. This is one horse that won three on the

:57:53.:57:57.

flat and won three over hurdles as well? This horse should be unbeaten

:57:57.:58:03.

because he should have won at Wetherby. He made a mistake at the

:58:03.:58:08.

last. I think this horse has got a great chance here.

:58:08.:58:14.

Let's hear from the trainer of Secret Edge. He is train by Alan

:58:14.:58:19.

King. Countrywide Flame was beaten by

:58:19.:58:24.

Secret Edge at Wetherby and Alan King, his trainer, you should be

:58:24.:58:30.

confident of finishing ahead of Hollow Tree. This is a tougher test

:58:30.:58:38.

of stamina as well? The stamina should suit him. This has been this

:58:38.:58:48.
:58:48.:58:53.

horse's target. We are wrong at the weights with Countrside Star.

:58:53.:58:58.

You would never have encountered ground ground quite as testing as

:58:58.:59:03.

this? He won the other day, but that was wetter ground. This is

:59:03.:59:08.

more holding. I am surprised if he didn't handle it. The biggest

:59:08.:59:13.

problem is he good enough? thing you have got in his favour is

:59:13.:59:17.

attitude. He knuckled down and kept going and always finding a little

:59:17.:59:20.

bit more. It took him two miles at Goodwood

:59:20.:59:24.

before he won a race and he does get the trip very well. I expect

:59:24.:59:28.

him to run very well, but I won it in the past. This horse wouldn't be

:59:28.:59:31.

as good as either of those, but we'll give it a G

:59:31.:59:36.

A good Christmas so far? Yeah, I think so. We're still standing!

:59:36.:59:42.

Hopefully you will be celebrating after this race.

:59:42.:59:52.

Thanks, Ritchie, cheers. Alan King making reference that he

:59:52.:59:58.

won this race before. Number one is Brilliant Barca.

:59:58.:00:04.

Barcelona fans will be supporting this!

:00:04.:00:07.

This horse won his own starter at Warwick.

:00:07.:00:13.

This is a good trainer, Sheena West. The horses she gets does very well

:00:13.:00:18.

and I think this horse, he has got no form on bad ground. That's the

:00:18.:00:28.
:00:28.:00:34.

Chadford. You have to sit up and take notice when you see money for

:00:34.:00:40.

any of their horses. Just one more that we hadn't quite seen is

:00:40.:00:47.

Captain Sharpe, the only Welsh challenger in this. They are going

:00:47.:00:50.

to make their way out on to the course for our final live race at

:00:51.:00:53.

Chepstow on Welsh National Day. Jim?

:00:53.:00:57.

They are coming in and that is it, they are off and running. Setting

:00:57.:01:01.

off over two miles and half a furlong and down near the inside

:01:01.:01:05.

the favourite, Hollow Tree, first to step off from Chadford. Up there

:01:05.:01:09.

as well too on the outside is School For Scandal as they come to

:01:09.:01:15.

the first of eight, they jump it well. Brilliant Barca back in the

:01:15.:01:19.

field. The leaders are settling down, School For Scandal on the

:01:19.:01:25.

outside, he joins Hollow Tree. In the centre is Chadford, dropping in

:01:25.:01:33.

behind them is Countrywide Flame, pulling hard, then in the centre is

:01:33.:01:42.

Secret Edge, out wider is Rasam Aldaar, even wider is Kapga De

:01:42.:01:46.

Cerisy. Well back then is Captain Sharpe as they start to climb

:01:46.:01:54.

uphill towards the back. They group up this stiff incline. On the

:01:54.:02:01.

inside is Secret Edge. Fairly well grouped, only five or six lengths

:02:01.:02:07.

covers them. The leader Hollow Tree has held sway in front from

:02:07.:02:13.

Chadford, the red cap, School For Scandal, in behind them out wide is

:02:14.:02:19.

Kapga De Cerisy, on the near side next is Countrywide Flame, as they

:02:19.:02:23.

come to the second. The leader made a mess of that, Hollow Tree. He

:02:23.:02:27.

went through the top of it. Has survived OK, though. We will see

:02:27.:02:32.

how he measures the second, so Hollow Tree booting up on the

:02:32.:02:36.

inside again to join School For Scandal and Chadford, coming

:02:36.:02:43.

towards it now, a much better jump. The leader is Hollow Tree, just

:02:43.:02:48.

from out wide School For Scandal in the centre, Chadford, in behind

:02:48.:02:52.

them is Countrywide Flame, right there out in the centre is

:02:52.:02:56.

Brilliant Barca as they go over the fourth. Kapga De Cerisy is out very

:02:56.:03:00.

wide, in behind them is Secret Edge, they are clear as they continue

:03:00.:03:04.

their journey down the back, Captain Sharpe is out very wide

:03:04.:03:08.

last. All the time heading down to that far corner of the course and

:03:08.:03:18.

Hollow Tree holds the rail, out wider is School For Scandal. Two to

:03:18.:03:24.

three lengths clear of Countrywide Flame on the inside. Now out wider

:03:24.:03:27.

is Kapga De Cerisy, Chadford is going backwards as they prepare to

:03:28.:03:32.

sweep across the top of the track now. Chadford really going back

:03:32.:03:36.

through the field. Off around the outside Captain Sharpe making some

:03:36.:03:41.

ground, in the centre next is Rasam Aldaar and also Secret Edge on the

:03:41.:03:43.

inside making some ground. Brilliant Barca is second last and

:03:43.:03:47.

under the whip Chadford doing nothing is now last. Sweeping

:03:47.:03:51.

around the home bend now into the home straight, they have four left

:03:51.:03:55.

to jump and Hollow Tree, on the far side, shows the way here by a

:03:55.:03:59.

couple of lengths to School For Scandal, now going second is

:03:59.:04:02.

Countrywide Flame, further back in fourth is Kapga De Cerisy, followed

:04:02.:04:07.

then as they come to four out by Secret Edge, the leader was careful

:04:07.:04:11.

over it. Hollow Tree being joined now by Countrywide Flame, who is

:04:11.:04:17.

looming up as the danger, as they head up now towards three out.

:04:17.:04:21.

Hollow Tree finding a bit more, but again Countrywide Flame on the

:04:21.:04:29.

outside getting ever closer. Four lengths away is Secret Edge. At the

:04:29.:04:33.

second last, Hollow Tree on the inside joined now by Countrywide

:04:33.:04:38.

Flame. They are stride for stride. On the flat, Hollow Tree has found

:04:38.:04:44.

more. Countrywide Flame won't go away. It's Hollow Tree. One left to

:04:44.:04:49.

jump. Hollow Tree on the far side. Near side Countrywide Flame. They

:04:49.:04:55.

come towards it. He was careful, Hollow Tree. Now, he starts to draw

:04:55.:05:05.

away and he's going on to win it well. Hollow Tree is jumping not

:05:05.:05:10.

that great, but he was superior on the flat. Second is Countrywide

:05:10.:05:20.
:05:20.:05:29.

Flame. So, the winner is 5 Hollow Tree. The 13-8 favourite. Ridden by

:05:30.:05:38.

Timmy Murphy. He has scrambled home here from 4 Countrywide Flame,

:05:38.:05:44.

ridden by Dougie Costello. Third 9 Secret Edge, ridden by Wayne

:05:44.:05:50.

Hutchinson. Fourth 6 Kapga De Cerisy, Aidan Coleman. In the end,

:05:50.:05:56.

he's ran out a comfortable winner. He made a sloppy mistake down at

:05:56.:06:05.

the second flight. And being cheered right to the line, Hollow

:06:05.:06:15.
:06:15.:06:16.

Tree. Some happy people there. And let's have a look at the result.

:06:16.:06:21.

There it is. Hollow Tree, the 13-8 favourite. Countrywide Flame 2-1.

:06:21.:06:27.

Secret Edge at 7-2. It will be interesting to see the

:06:27.:06:33.

shot from our helicopter as these two turned in to the straight. You

:06:33.:06:38.

pointed out something to me. Timmy Murphy has to start taking evasive

:06:38.:06:42.

action. He is very keen to keep on the inside track here. The further

:06:42.:06:45.

outside you come, the more on to the flat track which has been

:06:45.:06:50.

watered. He is trying to save as much ground as he can. He is

:06:50.:06:53.

virtually hugging that rail. As he comes through, you have to swing

:06:53.:06:57.

off that inside to get to the hurdles track? That's right. You

:06:57.:07:03.

have to bypass that fence. It looks like Timmy has almost clipped the

:07:03.:07:07.

wing. He is that desperate to stay off that - watch him. You can see

:07:07.:07:14.

Dougie Costello, he is not in his slipstream. See here, he brushed it.

:07:14.:07:19.

Again, he is staying down that inside and you see him here when he

:07:19.:07:23.

jumps that third last, he gets to the second last and he has to

:07:23.:07:26.

change his legs again to keep him back in. Look at how much he is

:07:26.:07:31.

hugging that rail. There must be one strip of turf there that is

:07:31.:07:35.

fresh enough for one print. That was the race winner there. He's

:07:35.:07:39.

gone very long there, very brave move by Timmy. This horse, give him

:07:39.:07:44.

his due, he has answered every call. Countrywide Flame, he is flicking

:07:44.:07:47.

through the top. This Hollow Tree gallops low to the ground, very

:07:47.:07:54.

economical way of running. He has a lovely long stride? When he

:07:54.:07:59.

stretches. Always good to see Timmy Murphy! A year or so ago, I wasn't

:07:59.:08:04.

sure whether he would keep riding for much longer. Rekindled his

:08:04.:08:10.

enthusiasm for the job. He has a great family. Two kids. He has an

:08:10.:08:14.

older lad. He is pleased with how things have gone. Riding better

:08:14.:08:24.
:08:24.:08:26.

than ever. Certainly is. A great man for

:08:26.:08:32.

dropping one out and coming with that well-timed run. He's had a

:08:32.:08:38.

very willing partner, although he did make jumping mistakes. APPLAUSE

:08:38.:08:43.

A very appreciative crowd as well. Great atmosphere here today. This

:08:43.:08:50.

is the biggest day in racing in Wales. And people have really

:08:50.:08:55.

appreciated it. We have seen some really good racing. So, let's check

:08:55.:09:05.
:09:05.:09:15.

the result now of this Future Considering he has been in front as

:09:15.:09:19.

well, it was a fantastic performance. Timmy Murphy, a

:09:19.:09:23.

fantastic ride and another favourite. He has a great attitude,

:09:23.:09:29.

the winner. If you keep following him, he will win plenty of races.

:09:29.:09:33.

He is a smashing horse. They will have a lot of fun with him. That is

:09:33.:09:37.

- you don't come into racing unless you love horses and you love sport

:09:37.:09:47.
:09:47.:09:52.

and you want to have a bit of fun. Timmy Murphy was saying how well he

:09:52.:09:56.

is riding at the moment. Mick, he is just enjoying it more than ever?

:09:56.:10:02.

He is an artist at work when you see him, Timmy. It doesn't matter

:10:02.:10:09.

whether he drops them in, you have seen him ride aggressive from the

:10:09.:10:15.

front. Rishi Persad is trying to grab a word with him. I have Timmy.

:10:15.:10:19.

Well done. Congratulations. This fella seems to find for you the

:10:19.:10:25.

more you ask? Look, I rode him in Bangor on soft ground and Donna

:10:25.:10:31.

said he is a lovely horse, he jumps great... Watch your back. He was

:10:31.:10:35.

right. I don't think I have ridden a tougher three-year-old. He never

:10:35.:10:42.

gives up. He will always, he tries too hard sometimes. He will come

:10:42.:10:45.

from where we ask him. That is what you need on that ground. You need

:10:45.:10:51.

something that will go to war for you. We are coming to the end of

:10:51.:10:56.

this year. You are riding as well as you have ever done. Not really.

:10:56.:11:01.

If I'm getting them horses every weekend, it is easy. You can only

:11:01.:11:06.

ride what you are supplied with. If they are no good, you are no good.

:11:06.:11:10.

I have to thank Jason and Donna, they are probably the main reason.

:11:11.:11:14.

David Johnson, we have had a few nice ones this season. It is fun

:11:14.:11:20.

again. He was good and so were you. Thanks.

:11:20.:11:23.

This time a year ago, the racing world was celebrating the success

:11:23.:11:27.

of AP McCoy who was crowned Sports Personality of the Year and then

:11:27.:11:31.

came here and won the Coral Welsh National on Synchronised. AP was on

:11:31.:11:41.
:11:41.:11:42.

hand to make a presentation and it was the Helen Rollason Award. 30

:11:42.:11:48.

years ago, Bob Champion came back from testicular cancer to ride a

:11:48.:11:56.

horse called Aldiniti. They won the 1981 Grand National. Bob Champion

:11:56.:12:06.
:12:06.:12:06.

went on to found the Bob Champion Cancer Trust. It was a wonderful

:12:06.:12:09.

moment and a chance again now to see the film that was put together

:12:09.:12:16.

to celebrate the achievements of Bob Champion.

:12:16.:12:22.

The National Hunt jockeys live with danger. It defines them. But being

:12:22.:12:30.

told you have cancer is a hard fall. In racing, they know more than most

:12:30.:12:34.

about inevitability, the power of probability over luck. Well, Bob

:12:34.:12:40.

Champion knew the odds and took a punt on himself. Now, a rank

:12:40.:12:49.

outsider to live. They kept explaining the treatment. Did you

:12:49.:12:56.

feel like giving up? A couple of times. I went and had a look around

:12:56.:13:01.

the kids' ward and I thought if they can go through with it, why

:13:01.:13:07.

can't I? Chemotherapy left him sick and hopelessly weak. He lost stones

:13:07.:13:16.

in weight but fought on sustained by a dream. And in 1981, that dream

:13:16.:13:26.
:13:26.:13:26.

came true. Just 20 months after starting treatment, Bob Champion

:13:26.:13:34.

climbed back in the saddle and aboard Aldiniti, he beat cancer, he

:13:34.:13:40.

beat the odds and he made history! His epic journey from the pit of

:13:40.:13:43.

despair to winning the world's greatest steeplechase touched the

:13:44.:13:50.

hearts of millions. And changed countless lives forever. So a

:13:50.:13:55.

fairytale outcome... To date, his Trust has raised over �12 million

:13:55.:14:00.

in the fight against cancer. But to the countless sufferers around the

:14:00.:14:10.
:14:10.:14:15.

world who face similar odds, perhaps his greatest legacy is hope.

:14:15.:14:22.

The voice of John Hurt who played Bob Champion in Champions. It is

:14:22.:14:27.

one of those things, you can't believe it happened? Not at all.

:14:27.:14:31.

Some great moments. Someone was talking about seeing the Rocky

:14:31.:14:35.

films, I remember going to watch Champions for the first time, going

:14:35.:14:40.

to Oxford, there was a big team of us. It was amazing seeing some of

:14:40.:14:50.
:14:50.:14:51.

the lads. It is a great film. and I were there as part of the

:14:51.:14:54.

line-up, applauding Bob who gave the most fabulous speech and that's

:14:54.:14:58.

the other thing that is so impressive about him, he was never

:14:58.:15:03.

a natural speaker. He has become such a great spokesman. He didn't

:15:03.:15:07.

realise he was getting a standing ovation. He couldn't see. This will

:15:07.:15:12.

tell you, you are in a room full of your peers and these people have

:15:12.:15:16.

shown your appreciation for a man who has done countless hours, weeks,

:15:16.:15:22.

months and years devoted to raising money. Superb for Bob. He is quite

:15:22.:15:30.

shy? Yes. He finds speaks quite hard work. Wonderful. I make a

:15:30.:15:35.

mention of a great friend of ours, Richard Pitman who is waiting for

:15:35.:15:39.

the call because he has offered to donate a kidney, he will have an

:15:39.:15:44.

operation and give a kidney as soon as match is found, which is the

:15:44.:15:51.

most extraordinary thing to say, "I'll do that." At his age, he is

:15:51.:15:56.

getting himself fit. It goes to show, he is putting himself through

:15:56.:16:01.

a rigorous fitness regime to get himself fit. He will never know who

:16:01.:16:06.

it is. It is an extraordinary thing. Good luck. Let's reflect on a

:16:06.:16:10.

magnificent day here at Chepstow, a great crowd, wonderful reception

:16:10.:16:17.

for Le Beau Bai. For Richard Lea, because people really like him, for

:16:17.:16:24.

Charlie Poste, and a lot of support for a whors ha -- for a horse who

:16:24.:16:29.

has been placed in the race before. A great reaction from Richard?

:16:29.:16:34.

is his 12th winner of the season. He has a good strike right. For

:16:34.:16:37.

Charlie Poste, it is his ninth winner of the season. That kiss, I

:16:37.:16:42.

am sure he will never forget either! He won't. It was in the end,

:16:42.:16:49.

we knew it was going to be a slog, but great jumping from the two up

:16:49.:16:54.

front? Yes. Giles Cross, I don't think he missed one. Denis has

:16:54.:16:59.

given him a good ride. If I had been him, I might have sat a bit

:16:59.:17:07.

longer on him. He will be gutted. want to clear up - this is from the

:17:07.:17:11.

earlier race. Maurice Linehan he picked up a suspension, part of the

:17:11.:17:15.

suspension was for going over the allowed number of strikes in the

:17:15.:17:20.

race which was eight. He got another suspension - explain why?

:17:20.:17:23.

He's picked up a ten-day ban for putting his stick down and they say

:17:23.:17:27.

he hasn't ridden the horse out and won the race outright. I have

:17:27.:17:31.

spoken to Maurice, he said that he put his stick down because he

:17:31.:17:36.

realised he had gone over his quota and he said he's hit the line. Like,

:17:36.:17:40.

he is flabbergasted. He is going to discuss it with his boss, I will

:17:40.:17:43.

have a look at the tape and then we will make a decision. He has been

:17:44.:17:47.

slapped for using it too much and slapped for not using it at the end.

:17:47.:17:50.

There are still things to be cleared up in the view between

:17:50.:17:54.

stewards and jockeys as to how best to ride horses. Overall, do you

:17:54.:17:59.

think the whip rules have improved what you are seeing now? I'm not

:17:59.:18:03.

sure. I don't know with - we had the number in a good while ago.

:18:03.:18:09.

They have reintroduced it. I'm against it. I just think that what

:18:09.:18:13.

it will - jockeys have to change the way they ride. They have to use

:18:13.:18:17.

every other means before they go to the stick. The lads are starting to

:18:17.:18:20.

adapt to that. They are getting there. It is not finished yet.

:18:20.:18:25.

There is a bit more of the safety measures thing to be sorted out.

:18:25.:18:28.

certainly saw a fabulous finish to the Welsh National and a great

:18:28.:18:31.

afternoon of racing here at Chepstow. I do hope you have

:18:31.:18:34.

enjoyed watching it. Many congratulations to Le Beau Bai.

:18:34.:18:44.
:18:44.:18:54.

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:18:54.:19:00.

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