  The Coral Eurobet Welsh National (Class A) (Grade 3) Over Three Miles and 5 and a half furlongs for the year 2001 was due to start at 2:15 pm on Thursday 27th December 2001 As the parade ended the horses ran down to one of the fences and it was not long before they came back to the start and were milling around at the start.  The tension was building up as the horses and jockeys were milling around at the start and they were slowly called in to the tape and suddenly the tape went up and the " under starters orders, there're off " came over the Tanoy system and the 2001 Welsh National was underway. The horses ran down to the bottom corner of the course and then started to clime the hill to the first fence. All the horses were jockeying for position and the 1999 winner Edmond was pushed to the front position that he held all through the race in his year. Bindaree another horse who likes to make the running was just in second place followed by, What's Up Boys, Moral Support and Take Control, next is Jocks Cross and then Supreme Glory. Followed by Folly Road, See More Business, Choisty, Saxton Duke, You're Agoodun and finally Bally Lira. At the first of the 22 fences was Edmond and Bindaree. The rest are about 4 lengths behind and all jump the fence well. At the next fence (The first open ditch) the leader is still Edmond ahead of Bindaree Then What's Up Boy's and jumping into 4th is Take Control. Onto the third Edmond has still got a good lead over Bindaree. All the others jump it well At the fourth fence Edmond just brushes his front legs through the fence but lands running all the others jump it well except the back marker Bally Lira who negotiates it but is jumping slowly and starts to fall behind. At the fifth the order is not changing except that What's Up Boy's is starting to loose a little ground. The pace slows slightly and all jump the fence well. At the sixth and the last on the far side all the horses jump the fence well and they start to go downhill towards the bend and all horses are still going. Edmond is still out in front by 4 lengths then Bindaree followed by Saxon Duke who has mad up ground, next is Supreme Glory, who has come upsides Take Control, follows him. Next is last year's winner Jock's Cross followed by What's Up Boys who is getting a few reminders. Next is Choisty followed by See More Business, Moral Support and Folly Road, You're Agoodun and finally Bally Lira who has still not got back in touch. 
As they go around the bend and on to the first in the straight Edmond is still in the lead followed by Bindaree and Saxon Duke. All get over it safely and it's on the second open ditch. All horse jump it well. They are now going uphill again to the top of this rise to the next fence. Edmond leads at it but gets in a little close he fiddles well and gets away running Saxon Duke also gets in close but jumps it well and all the others stream over behind them. They start to go downhill slightly to the next and Edmond again gets in a little close. Bindaree jumps it okay in second but Take Control jumps it very well and jumps up to dispute second place. Jocks Cross is now going well and moving up a few places. The others jump the fence safely. They run down to the next, which is the eleventh fence. Edmond jumps this really well and starts to put a few lengths between him and the rest of the field again. Saxon Duke stretches at the fence and gets a good leap. The others jump the fence safely.  They now run down to the finishing line for the first time and are at halfway having completed a full circuit. As the turn the bend and start to climb the hill Edmond is still leading from Bindaree, next comes, Supreme Glory who is going easily, followed by Saxon Duke and Take Control, next is Jocks Cross, See More Business, What's Up Boys, You're Agoodun, Moral Support who seems to be find it hard going, Folly Road, Choisty. Bally Lira is tailed off. 
At the first Down the back for the second time the 12th. Edmond jumps it well and so does Bindaree and Supreme Glory, What's Up Boys make a mistake but gets away with it as the others take the fence.Onto the next, the open ditch. Moral Support is getting reminders. Saxon Duke is starting to loose ground as the leaders jump the fence. The pace is now starting to hot up as the leaders go to the next and some are finding it hard going. See More Business is starting to lose ground. But What's Up Boys seems to be getting a second wind. At the next fence the 14th of 22, Supreme Glory is disputing the lead with Edmond with Bindaree only one length of the lead. Edmonds jockey S.Durack shakes him up to get the lead again and goes on by a length and a half and it's on to the next. At the fence Supreme Glory has caught up Edmond again and they jump it together and the pace is hotting up all the time next to jump the fence is Take Control Who is upsides Bindaree and as the others jump the fence Choisty who is well behind is pulled up. On to the 15th and Supreme Glory is staying with Edmond and they are disputing the lead with Bindaree and Take Control disputing third and fourth. Followed by Jock's Cross and You're Agoodun who seems to be going well. At the next Supreme Glory get to the fence first and out jumps Edmond. 
As they go downhill towards the bend there is a leading bunch that are getting away from the others. Supreme Glory leads Edmond who is now hard ridden, Followed by Bindaree who is running well. Next is Take Control who is starting to be ridden along, next is Jock's Cross who is being ridden along to keep a place but is going backwards, followed by You're Agoodun who is still going well. What's Up Boys is the last of this group bust is finding plenty now.
All the others are now out of touch as they turn in to the straight the race is now on; Edmond is finding more and has gone two lengths in font again. Supreme Glory is still going well Bindaree is still going well hugging the rail and What's Up Boys is moving through the field. Moral Support has had enough and is pulled up.At the first in the home straight. Edmond leads, but only just Bindaree and Supreme Glory jump it together next then there is a line of three who jump it together next they are Jocks Cross, What's Up Boys and you're a Agoodun. who jumps to his right and interferes with What's Up Boys. Take Control is starting to find this pace a little too hot but is still in touch if good enough. At they run on to the next the last open ditch, Edmond starts to lose ground as Supreme Glory starts to motor up the hill and he gets to the fence a half length in the lead from Bindaree, Edmond is switched to the right o get a look at the fence and touches Jocks Cross who is now starting to find more. At the fence Supreme Glory jumps it first Bindaree is second, Jocks cross makes a mistake in third alongside him, You're Agoodun is awkward at it. Edmond who is now next makes a tired leap and makes a hash of it but is still standing but his chance has now gone. What's Up Boy's jumps it very well and Take Control a length behind these also makes a mistake at the fence. See More Business is to be pulled up before this fence. At the next 5 move ahead and What's Up Boys is making great ground and Bindaree is starting to labour. But going best of all is now Jock's Cross Who moves into the lead and jumps the fence first, next is Supreme Glory followed closely by Bindaree and the improving What's Up Boys, and You're Agoodun. Folly Road has had enough and is pulled up. These five are now clear of the rest and at the second last Supreme Glory moves up to take the lead again with Jock's Cross second What's Up Boy's moves into third and Bindaree fourth Fifth and dropping back is You're Agoodun. At the last fence Supreme Glory jumps the fence in the lead by one length, Jock's Cross is next he jumps it well, Two lengths back is What's Up Boys he jumps it well next is Bindaree He jumps it well and now they are all flat out on the run in. All 4 horses and jockeys are giving their all Supreme Glory however has got enough to get away from Jocks Cross who is still trying to give more. Bindaree move ahead of What's Up Boys who has giving his all and is now staying on.  At the line Supreme Glory wins the 2001 Welsh National by 2 length from Jock's Cross and there is a further 6 lengths to Bindaree and a further 2 length to What's Up Boys. Next is A tired You're Agoodun followed by Take Control, and Edmond. The next to finish is Saxon Duke and then it's a distance back to Bally Lira who is the last to finish. |
