The Racing Pages 1999 Welsh National The Full Report

2000

Report on the Welsh National

The Coral Eurobet Welsh National (Class A) (Grade 3) Over Three Miles and 5 and a half furlongs for the year 2000 was due to start at 2:15 pm on Saturday 27th December 2000

	The horses were paraded in front of the stands all except Montroe who because of his jumpy nature he was allowed to go down to the start early and on his own.
The parade this year was led by the only horse to win the Welsh National twice in successive years, "Bonanza Boy" and he did look in very good condition and it was very good to see him back at the course of his greatest victories.
	The horses were milling at the start of the race and just the excitement was building all the time. The horses were called in to the start but as always in big fields the horses and jockeys got excited and rushed towards the tape. Of course they were sent back to have a turn and then just 5 minutes late the horses were at the tape and there was a good line, the tape went up and the Welsh National was underway.

All the horses bar one set off for the first bent but one was left that was Juyush and when he did start he was 10 lths behind the pack.
He was not ungenuine but he just missed the start.
The horses went down to the stable bent and then started the long run up the hill to the first fence which is about a half a mile from the start.
At the first there were three almost in a line, Edmond, Dom Samourai and Papo Kharisma then followed by the twice second National horse Suny Bay and the rest of the pack were one length behind.
All horses jumped the first and it was onto the second fence, which is the first open ditch.
All the leaders jumped the fence well but You Re Agoodun was slow at the fence and his feet got stuck in the ditch and he unseated his jockey.
The 18 remaining runners go onto the next a plain fence and all horses jump it well.
Ambleside take up a position disputing the lead with Edmond as they approach the fourth fence, this is the fence that used to be the water but is now another plain fence and all jump it well.
All horses jump the fifth without problems and then it's onto the last in the back a downhill fence.
All jump the last in the back well and the lead is held by Edmond then Ambleside, Suny Bay ,Papo Kharisma,Dom Samourai,Jocks Cross,Moral Support,Montroe,Kaki Crazy and Kings Road but the others are not far behind.
So it's around the bottom bent and they start the climb up the hill to the first in the straight all horses jump the next, the seventh. This fence is one of the most difficult on the course and is the second of four open ditches they will meet today, however all jump it well as Suny Bay tries to take up the lead.
The next is a plain uphill fence and all take it well, Suny Bay is just in the lead from Ambleside and Edmond.
Over the brow of the hill and onto the tenth which all jump well.
As they move to the 11th fence, the last on the next circuit, Ambleside again takes the lead at the fence and all jump it well.
1st Time round

The horses go past the finish line and the order is 1st Ambleside next Edmond,Suny Bay, Moral Support,Montroe ,Jocks Cross,Papo Kharisma,Dom Samourai ,Ardent Scout, Flaked oats, Kings Road,Kaki Crazy and Moondigua then few lengths back comes Royal Tommy, Atavistic and Spanish Main. A long gap to Juyush and Good Lord Murphy bring up the rear.
Around the bend they go and back up the hill to the first in the back again this time the 12th fence.
All jump the fence well and it's onto the open ditch again.
The leaders jump it well with Suny Bay, Moral Support, Ambleside and Edmond all in a line Further back in the field Flaked oats makes a bad mistake but gets away with it not so lucky was Papo Kharisma who males a terrible mistake and falls badly hampering Royal Tommy who also falls after meeting Papo at the other side of the fence and he shoots his jockey up in the air.
16 now left in the race as they go onto the 14th a plain fence.
All jump it well and the race is now starting to hot up.Juyush is pulled up
At the next all again jump well but Ambleside gets a reminder.
onto the next all jump it well and the race is now starting to get serious. Moondigua is pulled up and so is Ardent Scout.
Onto the last in the back and the three horses upfront are Edmond, Moral Support who is starting to look dangerous and Jocks Cross who is now getting on terms with the leaders, they are followed by Suny bay, the field is now starting to get strung out and there is a long way down around the bend to the first in the straight.
The two up front Moral Support and Jocks cross are going very well but Edmond is being hard ridden and comes under pressure and it 10 lengths back to the rest of the field.
Over the first in the straight and Moral Support and Jocks cross are now starting to fight it out, the rest of the field can only follow and surely the winner will come from these two.Kaki Crazy is pulled up Spanish Main falls at the fence and brings down Atavistic
The next is the open ditch and the leaders jump it well ahead of the field after jumping the fence Suny Bay is pulled up. Onto the top of the hill and onto the third last the two leaders are now 20 lengths ahead so the field and jump the fence well, down to the second last and the horses are neck and neck, Moral Support jumps the fence carefully but Jocks cross jumps it very impressively and gets away from it running This gets him 3 lengths over Moral Support and they both are under pressure as they go onto the last.
Jocks cross now 5 lengths in front jumps the fence really well and following Moral Support also jumps the fence very well then next horse Edmond is now 30 lengths back.
Both horses run on to the finish and as they get to within 150yards of the line Moral Support starts to catch Jocks Cross but Jocks cross has too much ground in hand.

As he passes the finishing line the jockey give the salute to the crowd and punches the air.
He's done it on his first attempt st The Coral Eurobet Welsh National.
The crowd salute back with a great cheer as he passes the line there is also a great cheer for the second horse as Moral Support a gallant loser and long time favourite as he Crosses the line 3 and a half lengths behind, he has given his all and has ran with credit.
30 lengths behind is last years winner Edmond a gallant third this year to add to his first last year.
A further 17 lengths behind is the four horse Ambleside he ran very well but just found a few too good this time but 4th place is no disgrace today.
Next to pass the line is Flaked oats who never got over the mistake he made at the 13th,He adds this to his fourth place last year
Next is good Lord Murphy who stayed on past tired horses.
8th The Welsh National Veteran Dom Samourai adds to his fourth and also second places, in this, his third time in the race.
The last to cross the line today is Montroe. A good effort from this six year old.

Nine finishers again this year the same as in the previous two years.

Maybe not a close finish but still a very exciting race!