After the abandonment of the Windsor race it was a real boost today to see the Long Walk Hurdle being moved to Chepstow. This was a real treat to see the festival champion Inglis Drever even though he was to be long odds on.

The weather up to the day was getting colder and colder and with a sharp frost forecast and arriving the night before meant that we were again waiting for the dreaded early morning inspection. With the weather catching out so many race meetings lately it was a long wait until until the 8:30 inspection when we got the all clear.

There was much in the news about the changes to the road system, warning locals to stay well away from the course if not going racing. With this in mind we set off really early to get to the course around 10:15, with the courseopening until 9:45 this seemed to be early enough. The road changes looked good from the M4 motorway with both sides of the road being used for traffic going to the course but as usual the problems really started when we got to the first human control at the roundabout near the course. As I have seen so many times before the hill up to the course did not have many vehicles on it but the long traffic jam was being held up while the other traffic was being given too much time at the roundabout. Also the slowdown of cars in the car park was not helping as cars had to slow down on the gravel, which held up the cars on the main road. The Chepstow car park has a tarmarked pathway in the car park but this is never used but all this was insignificant to the long wait to get home (More of this later).

After exiting the carpark the queues of people getting entry to the course were kept moving however I did notice that this year tickets were available from the racecourse website and anyone who bought tickets in advance were given immediate entry to the course, a good tip for next year.

The Welsh National was the sixth race on the eight race card today and the racing started on time. The first three races were well supported but the fourth race was the Long Walk Hurdle. This was going to be a good spectacle with Inglis Drever was long odds on and looked good in the paddock but he was to prove to be a big disappointment as he was never going and at halfway he was under pressure. He was very tired in the sticky testing ground and unfortunately fell at the last fence when well beaten. A smart hurdler won the race from the Alan King Stable "My Way de Solzen" who won on merit.

One more class 1 grade A hurdle next and then we waiting for the National. There were a few jockey changes in the National importantly Richard Johnson had to give up his rides following a bad fall yesterday and he was being replaced by Paddy Brennan who was down to ride L'Aventure and the spare ride on the L'Aventure went to Luke Harvey. Soon the horses and connections were in the parade ring waing for the bell for the jockeys to mount and go on to the course

As the horses paraded it felt as if the cutting wind had increased and it felt very cold with the wind chill factor felt by all.

The horses were soon parading before the race and not long after they were lining up. We got the call over the public address system and they were off for the 2005 Coral Welsh National.