1st Supreme Glory
Supreme Glory is an old style chaser. He loves extreme distances and has not won at a distance less than 3m1f.
He loves soft ground and he jumps superbly however on his last run he did make a mistake and then lost all chance, It is no good pretending that this is not a bit of a worry but today he did not put a foot wrong and his trainer said that he just put a line through his last run and we may be able to do that also.
He has now run only 15 times and has made the frame 9 times. He is just turning 9 years old. He ran in last years Scottish National and came third that day and was only 71/2 lengths behind the winner.
Today he was kept up with the pace for most of the race and really seemed to be enjoying himself and when challenged for the lead pulled out some great jumps and showed that he could with the best of them.
He runs very well when fresh and will have just one more run before the Grand National. Winning his next race could see him come out as favourite for the big one. He would like it certainly no better than good on the day but soft ground or heavy would be a bonus.
I'm sure he will return back next year all being well to try win this for a second year.
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Pat Murphy
Pat Murphy is not one of the top elite of trainers in this country but is more of a "Grass Roots trainer.
Last year he scored 2 wins from 49 runners and both of them came in chases.
Winning the 2001 Welsh National is the best win that he has had in hid training career.
Pat is often found giving his opinions on The Racing Channel and often fronts the cameras at courses as well as in the studio.
Pat was delighted that this horse won especially as this is the horse that threw him earlier in the year and caused hid to break his wrists and also his elbow.
The delight on pats face in the unsaddling enclosure was a real treat to see as he had had a difficult year with the loss of a close member of his family.
After the race he said that he thought the horse was a winner a long way out, and added "He jumped well today" and confirmed that this was the culmination of 18 months of planning.
Pat moved from his base in the Bristol area to his new home in Lambourn earlier this year and was sad at losing what turned out to be a future star I "shooting Light " to Marin Pipe. But this has gone someway to helping ease that.
There was a very good reception for Pat in the winner's enclosure and I wish him many more success and hope that this horse can now go on and win The Grand National at Liverpool in April.
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Leighton Aspell
Leighton Aspell is a good jockey who perhaps is one of those who does not get all the rides he deserves. He rides a lot for Josh Gifford who does not have so many winners these days. Leighton rode 26 winners last season from 294 rides and Noel Chance was the most successful trainer he rode for.
Supreme Glory's trainer Pat Murphy commented that he gave the horse a great ride and so he did. He must have done his homework as he did not let Edmond get away from him and kept the horse well in touch giving the horse every chance to win. After the ride today he will like to keep the ride on the horse in the Grand National and he did it so well that I'm sure the connections will let him.
At only 25 he has a few years now to get more good rides.
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2nd Jock's Cross
Last years winner Jocks Cross ran a very creditable race again this year, He rallied really well up the straight and jumped very well.
He is a small horse and he loves this course and always runs a few pounds better here than anywhere else.
After his good jumping here he may now be allowed to try the national fences, you may remember that last year his owner feared that he did not jump well enough to try Aintree.
A lovely little horse who would have been a very popular dual winner and who I'm sure will be back for another crack next year.
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Venetia Williams
Venetia Williams Is well known now as the best female trainer we have and is up there amongst the top trainers of any sex.
She was 5th in the trainer's table last year sending out 63 winners at a respectable strike rate of 21% and collecting over £690,000 in prise money.
Venetia is top class all the way and will have many other winners and as she trains in Hereford we may be lucky and see her many more times at Chepstow.
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Brian Crowley
Brian Crowley rode another near perfect race today, When the horses were down the back for the second time and Jocks Cross was beginning to feel the race he kept him up with the pace and this is what gave the horse his chance today, if he had sat back then the horse would not have got second place even though he would have run on at the end. Brian is having a successful time riding for the Venetia Williams stable and is getting good rides.
Last year Brian rode 27 Winners from 163 rides and as a conditional jockey this is a very good total.
He will get many more rides from Venetia and hopfully will also get good outside rides. A young man with a big future ahead of him.
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3rd Bindaree.
Bindaree and ex-pointer won three chases as a novice last year after winning a grand one hurdle in the 1999/2000 season.
He is a lovely horse who jumps really well. He actually did little wrong today and just found two too good.
He is a consistent horse and loves to front run but was not able to do so today or I think he may have been closer to the winner. He is still only 7 and could still have a little improvement in him. He would be another who would be an interesting runner in the Grand National, as he seems to jumps so well in the main. He will be winning more races soon and looks one to stay on the right side of.
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Nigel Twiston Davies
Nigel Twiston Davies is a trainer out of the top draw. He famously dislikes giving interviews and we can accept this as he sends out so many good horses to win races. He has won this race in the past with Earth Summit who when on to win the Scottish National and also the Grand National.
He trained 47 winners last season which was poor by his standards and was down on the 87 that he sent out the year before however he still earned over half a million pounds in prize money.
He could have another horse here to join Beau in the Grand National.
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Carl Llewellyn
Carl Llewellyn is one of our top jockeys in this country. As number one jockey to N.T.Davies he also had a poor season with only 47 winners last season this was down on the 68 of the previous season. He gave Bindaree a good ride today and kept the horse up with the pace although he was not allowed to dominate the race.
He was giving Beau a particularly good ride in the National last year when he was unseated. His commitment is such, and he thought that the horse was going so well that he could be seen running down the course trying to catch the horse as he wanted to remount.
A good jockey who wins when the horse is good enough.
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What's Up Boys ran a very good race today carrying what was quite a lot of weight for this race. He was flagging down the back on the second circuit but then picked up well but did nothing but stay on from the second last. His trainer said that he thought that the distance had found him out but I think that after the hard race he had in the Hennessy earlier in the month that this race might have just taken a little too much out of him. If you add that to the fact he was untried at this undulating course I think he ran very well and perhaps could have got a little closer to the winner without his 4lb penalty for winning at Newbury.
A good looking grey horse who is one to follow as he runs good races and is still improving.
Given his trainers comments I would expect him to run short of this distance for the rest of the season.
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Philip Hobbs
Philip Hobbs is another top class trainer who finished 4th in the trainers title last year. He trains in Minehead and gets a lot of winners in the west country and also runs many times at Chepstow. He has lot of good horses so it is perhaps surprising that he has not won The Welsh National yet however given his class it can only be a matter of time.
He thought that his charge this year got found out be the trip. But the horse looked very well and I'm sure he will get more wins both from this horse and also the other in his stable.
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Paul Flynn
Paul Flynn is a good up and coming conditional jockey who rides a lot for Philip Hobbs.
He won 32 races last year and also won one this horse in the Hennessy earlier in the month.
He rode the horse well today and gave him every chance.
I'm sure he has a good future ahead of himself and will find more winners.
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