At the off Jeremy Spider takes the lead with Bindaree close up Jurancon II a length behind as they take the bend and start to climb the hill, fourth place is taken by Kings Mistral next is Bounce Back, Akarus, Sir Rembrandt, Wonder Weasel, Take Control and Chives, next is Kemal's council, Take The Stand and Mister Woodentop, Hedgehunter is last.
	They go around the bend and go left-handed up the hill and as they get to the top and start to level out Bindaree gets to the leader and he takes the fence with Jeremy Spider, there is nothing between them, the next horse is a length behind and is Jurancon II followed by the rest of the field, Take Control makes a mistake but is fine and all the other horses jump the fence well.

The next fence is the open ditch, at it Bindaree and Jeremy Spider are level again and one and a half lengths behind jumping the fence in third is Jurancon II The rest of the field jump the fence well with the exception of Take Control who is very untidy at the fence.

The third Fence is another plain fence, and all take it well.

The fourth fence is the fence with the hedges either side; it used to be the water but now is a plain fence. The leaders take it well a length in front of the rest of the filed, the rain get worse now and the jockeys are working already driving the horses through the mud.

The fifth fence is another plain fence but is on the downhill slope of Chepstow and can catch out horses fortunately today all jump it well.

The horses then start to run downhill proper and the next plain fence is also awkward as the horses start to run away downhill, at the fence there is little to choose between the two leaders and the rest of the field all jump the fence well and are close up and all going well enough.

There is a long sweeping turn now before the 7th fence, which will be the first in the straight. As the leaders go into the bend the horses start to get stretched out a little. In the lead is Jeremy Spider, he is followed a length behind by Bindaree next is Kings Mistral who is just a little in front of Jurancon II, Sir Rembrandt, Akarus, Bounce Back and Wonder Weasel but all horses are going well and none are getting left behind. As the come out of the bend the horses move away from the rail, but Carl Llewellyn keeps Bindaree close to the rail and gains the length back that he was behind and they run on to the 7th fence

At the 7th, a plain fence, Jeremy spider and Bindaree are again neck and neck, Kings Mistral is next but jumping into fourth place is Sir Rembrandt a length behind is Bounce Back and Jurancon II who jumps well and makes up some ground. The rest of the field follow and they start to run uphill to the next, which is the second of the 4 open ditches that have to jump today.

At the 8th Jurancon II is up with the leaders and all three horses are in a line with the rest of the field in close pursuit, Take Control however makes another mistake.

On to the 9th fence, Jurancon II is now leading by a half a length to Jeremy Spider with Bindaree another half-length behind. The field is now starting to get stretched out more and Mr. Woodentop makes a mistake at the fence. At the back of the field is still Hedgehunter who although is well behind is jumping like a buck out of this deep sticky ground. They start now to go downhill again and on to the next.

On to the 10th fence which will be the second last on the next circuit is another fence that catches out horses even good jumpers, this is the fence that brought See More Business down a few years back. At the fence Kings Mistral and Jeremy Spider jump the fence neck and neck and two lengths behind is Bindaree. Two lengths further back is Jurancon II and Sir Rembrandt both together with Jurancon II working harder than Sir Rembrandt who looks to be going very well. Mid Division Akarus makes a mistake at the fence.

Onto the next fence this will be the last on the next circuit and the horses are still getting stretched out, Kings Mistral and Jeremy Spider are the first to jump the fence well and get away fast. Next in the field is Bindaree, the rest of the field soon follow and Hedgehunter is last at the fence and is still jumping very impressively if now 20 lengths off the two leaders.

The Horses pass the winning post for the first time and the rain continues to pour, there are a couple that are starting to lag behind, Chives looses a few places and Wonder Weasel starts to fall behind. The horses round the bend and climb the hill. At the top of the hill they go onto the flat and approach the first in the back, which is fence 12 of 22.

At the 12th Jeremy Spider has a half length lead but King Mistral jumps the better and gets away from the fence in the lead, Two lengths back is Bindaree and Jurancon II, Akarus is next and Sir Rembrandt although losing a few places is still going really well. Next in the field is three length backs it is Take Control and they are followed by Bounce Back and starting to making up good ground is Hedgehunter and Wonder Weasel the rest of the field are now starting to get tired and it is too much for Mr Woodentop who is pulled up.

At the 13th, the next open ditch the leaders jump the fence well but the horse that makes a mistake is Wonder Weasel, The rest of the field are getting more strung out, Mr Woodentop has had enough and is pulled up the rest of field jump the fence but the testing conditions are now having an effect with many horses being ridden hard to keep a place.

On to the next the 14th a plain fence, The leader Kings Mistral jumps the fence really well and he is about 2 lengths ahead of the next horse Jeremy Spider but the pack are now closing up on the second horse, Bindaree Akarus and Sir Rembrandt jump the fence in a line with Sir Rembrandt going easily and looking very good. Many of the followers are now getting very tired but the remaining 8 jump the fence.

At the 15th the chasing pack have caught the leader who is struggling a little and there is less than a length between the first five but Kings Mistral is still in the lead. Chives is finding this too difficult today and is pulled up. Bounce Back is now weakening and falling behind,

The field starts again to go downhill to the next, the 16th a plain slightly downhill fence, Kings Mistral again gets a length in front and the following two horses are Bindaree and Sir Rembrandt who is still going particularly well Akarus is next then Jeremy Spider who is finding the going a little to hard now and is dropping back between the fences and at the fence makes a mistake. Bounce Back is pulled up and is the third to drop out of the race.

At the 17th, the last in the back, a real downhill fence, Kings Mistral is going well and is a length ahead of the cruising Sir Rembrandt next is Akarus who jumps the fence well close up is Bindaree who jumps the fence adequately but looks to be getting tired having been with the leaders so long. The following pack are three lengths behind are lead over it by the Hedgehunter who is improving all the time and now going well. Take The Stand is now going well also and moving through the field of tired horses.
As they get away from the fence and start the long left hand turn six horses now get away from the rest of the tiring field, Kings Mistral is going well in front, Sir Rembrandt going well and closing down on the leader, Bindaree is hugging the rail and is just being passed by Akarus, Hedgehunter is now going really well and Take The Stand who is also going well. There is a widening gap of 15 lengths to the next horse who is the long time leader Jeremy Spider who is battling on under a driving ride in the pouring rain, he is falling further behind now and is eventually pulled up. Take Control is also pulled up. Wonder Weasel is also pulled up here. The rest of the field are a further 10 lengths behind and have no chance now.

As they come out of the bottom bend and on to the first in the home straight. Kings Mistral, Sir Rembrandt and Akarus are going the better and the following three Bindaree, Hedgehunter and Akarus are all being ridden along more vigorously. At the 18th Kings Mistral is joined by Sir Rembrandt, The crowd in the packed stands now roar as the favourite joins the leader. Kings Minstrel meets the fence perfect and gives a good jump, Sir Rembrandt meets the fence wrong and goes through the top he crumples on landing, the groan from the crowd is louder than the previous cheer, but bravely and cleverly Sir Rembrandt finds a leg, his jockey Andrew Thornton keeps the horses head up and as the horse sways to the left to survive his jockey goes out to the right but stays on board, They are then passed by Akarus who is going well, Bindaree and Hedgehunter jump the fence well and are not far behind. Sir Rembrandt has now lost two lengths with the open ditch next his jockey has to re-settle the horse and does not panic.
All the horses are now tiring in the driving rain and wind and the first to come under pressure is the leader Kings Mistral he has one of the most experienced jockeys in the country on board today, Richard Johnson he can feel the horse tiring and gives him crack with the whip and the brave horse finds more. Akarus is now going well but is feeling the strain like all the horses still in the race he is being ridden for all he is worth by his jockey Jamie Moore who has given him a great ride. Carl Llewellyn the most experienced jockey in the country is urging his Grand National winner Bindaree for more and is hard at work with hands and heels, Shamus Durak is still hard at work with his mount Take The Stand who has made many mistakes today but Shamus and his mount are still in with a chance even if the young horse is tiring. Hedgehunter is going the best of all the horses and is being looked after by Ruby Walsh who is riding him out but has not had to put him under intense pressure like other riders.

As they approach the 19th the open ditch the crowd are now shouting for their selections with the three in the front of the betting all with good chances it is deafening. Kings Mistral and Akarus are neck and neck with Akarus going the better both are at the fence together but both meet it wrong and are in too close both horses simultaneously go through the top of the fence, and land big, both horses are unable to find a leg and fall totally independently of each other, they give the jockeys no chance, the horses go down and the jockeys roll away from the fence and their mounts, The stands are alive now with load groans from the supporters of the fallers and the cheers for the four leaders. Only a length behind and now at the fence is Sir Rembrandt who's jockey sees the fall and pulls the horse to the right to avoid the horses and jockeys. Sir Rembrandt sees the trouble and cleverly jumps a little to the right with a great jump he doesn't touch a twig, Hedgehunter almost up with him and Sir Rembrandt jumps slightly into his run but this causes him little bother but does mean that he runs away from the bottom of the fence to the right. Bindaree on the left of the trouble still tired, however now he starts to stay on, his jockey knows he will get the trip but can he go two better than his third in 2001? Take The Stand is now two lengths behind and finding the going hard but still staying on for his jockey and puts everything he can into the jump and clears the fence. Three more plain fences and the battle will be over.

The horses start to run uphill to the 20th fence Take The Stand comes under pressure to find more and he is still trying to give his all in these very testing conditions. Bindaree now also comes under pressure to try and find a little more, Sir Rembrandt also now under pressure but still in the lead, Hedgehunter is not yet under the whip but is still running on and giving his jockey a fantastic ride. At the 20th, a Plain fence at the top of the hill all horses are now flat out and two jump the fence together Sir Rembrandt the favourite jumps the fence brilliantly and again does not touch a twig less than a head behind Bindaree jumps all out and is also brilliant at it and clears the birch fence. Hedgehunter a length behind now starts to look a little leg weary but gives everything and although he does not jump it with his usual flamboyance he jumps it well enough, three lengths behind these a tiered Take The Stand he was very good at the fence and is staying on.

Two more to jump and the battle is on for the 2003 Coral Welsh National The rain is pouring the wind is driving the jockeys are exhausted as are the horses but no one is giving up and all ask for more, approaching the second last Sir Rembrandt and Bindaree get a two length lead from Hedgehunter who is falling behind these two now. At the fence Sir Rembrandt and Bindaree are together both horses jump the fence well two lengths back Hedgehunter jumps the fence well, Take The Stand jumps like an exhausted horse and is a little untidy but is forgiven for this and it's onto the last.

Approaching the last both horses are giving their all Sir Rembrandt is not getting things the way he did in the rehearsal chase three weeks ago the extra distance has put him and Bindaree closer together, Sir Rembrandt is tired but is not giving up he has run his heart out for three and a half miles in strength stripping conditions but his jockey asks for more and the brave horse finds a little more, Bindaree is now flat out he's been here before he loves this south Wales course but is another who has given all he has but his jockey urges him to give more, he wants him to win another big title, Bindaree responds like the brilliant horse he is and again digs deep into his reserves to carry on. At the last there is nothing between the horses both approach the fence spot on and both jump the fence and get away from it well. The crowd has now gone mad, the favourite Sir Rembrandt is still there up against the Chepstow regular, all want to win and all now know they are in for a memorable and spectacular finish.

The race is on for the finish both jockeys have been hard at work for a long time now but both want this success, The two brave horses have travelled through the mud, through the rain and through wind and there is just 100 yards now left to run Sir Rembrandt tries harder and harder but the more exposed and experienced Bindaree starts to push his nose in front this then becomes a head in front and both horses are going for the line. Sir Rembrandt is fighting back for all he is worth but Bindaree is not now going to be beaten as the line approaches Bindaree is a half length in front and crosses the line victorious.

No punching the air from the winning jockey today it is enough to now that both horse and jockey have given everything they can and have come out on top. 20 lengths behind Hedgehunter stays on to get third he has run his race but today was just not his day, a Further 10 lengths behind is Take The Stand, He just made too many mistakes today but to his credit he stayed on for fourth place. Jurancon II is the only other horse to finish a distance behind the others but to his credit he finished the race when many others did not.

Bindaree gets a heroes welcome as he makes his way back into the winners enclosure.

Today however there were many horse who have their all but were just not good enough and thankfully they all came back safe.

 continued