Ahead of the highly-anticipated staying contest on December 27th at Chepstow races, check out the recent Welsh Grand National winners including the fairytale story of Dream Alliance.
What Is The Welsh Grand National?
The Coral Welsh Grand National is a Premier Handicap steeplechase and it is run at Chepstow in Wales over a distance of 3miles and 6.5 furlongs with 23 fences to be jumped.
The race has first run in 1895 was originally staged at Ely Racecourse in Cardiff, until the closure of that venue in 1939. It was then moved to Newport Racecourse for just one year after World War II before moving to its present venue in 1949.
Chepstow’s iconic race the day after Boxing Day is the biggest in Welsh racing in a contest where proven stamina is vital for any horse going for the big prize.
Welsh Grand National 2023 Info
📅Date: Tuesday 27th December 2023
🕙Time: 2:10pm
🏇Racecourse: Chepstow (3m6f)
💰 Winner: £85,425
📺 TV: ITV/ Sky Sports Racing
Who Won The Welsh Grand National In 2022?
The 2022 Welsh Grand National was won by gutsy 11-year-old The Two Amigos, who went off at 16/1 but made all with a tremendous front-running performance (see below).
It was the third time that Nicky Martin’s charge had ran in the race, but it was a perfect case of being a “third time lucky”. He was fifth in the race in 2019 and runner up in 2020, but eventually got his head in front under David Pritchard.
The Two Amigos wins the Coral Welsh Grand National at @Chepstow_Racing! 🏴🏆 pic.twitter.com/Cwc50O44c2
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) December 27, 2022
All Of The Welsh Grand National Winners Since 2000
- 2022: The Two Amigos (Nicky Martin)
- 2021: Iwilldoit (Sam Thomas)
- 2020: Secret Reprieve (Evan Williams)
- 2019: Potters Corner (Christian Williams)
- 2018: Elegant Escape (Colin Tizzard)
- 2017: Raz De Maree (Gavin Cromwell)
- 2016: Native River (Colin Tizzard)
- 2015: Mountainous (Kerry Lee)
- 2014: Emperor’s Cross (Venetia Williams)
- 2013: Moutainous (Richard Lee)
- 2012: Monbeg Dude (Michael Scudamore)
- 2011: Le Beau Bai (Richard Lee)
- 2010: Synchronised (Jonjo O’Neill)
- 2009: Dream Alliance (Philip Hobbs)
- 2008: Notre Pere (Jim Dreaper)
- 2007: Miko de Beauchene (Robert Alner)
- 2006: Halcon Genelardais (Alan King)
- 2005: L’Aventure (Paul Nicholls)
- 2004: Silver Birch (Paul Nicholls)
- 2003: Bindaree (Nigel Twiston-Davies)
- 2002: Mini Sensation (Jonjo O’Neill)
- 2001: Supreme Glory (Pat Murphy)
- 2000: Jocks Cross (Venetia Williams)
Dream Alliance: Remembering The Iconic Welsh Grand National Winner
Fairytale horse Dream Alliance was one of the most iconic Welsh Grand National winners in recent times. “Dreamy” was raised on an allotment in Wales by Janet Vokes and was owned by syndicate members in the local village.
Vokes and her husband brought a mare named Rewbell for £300 at a yard in Llanelli and found a stallion in Oxfordshire with a racing pedigree called Bien Bien, eventually breeding Dream Alliance.
He made his racing debut at Newbury in 2004, before claiming his first win over hurdles at Chepstow in 2007. Dream Alliance also added the Perth Gold Cup to his CV in 2007.
However, disaster struck in 2008 when he suffered an agonising tendon injury in his leg, which many would have opted to have the horse put down. But the dream went on and connections raised £20,000 for stem-cell treatment, and Dreamy returned to action the following year.
Tom O’Brien rode the then eight-year-old to glory in the Welsh Grand National in 2009 at staggering odds of 20/1, a horse that will forever be remembered by horse racing fans around the country for allowing those to dream.
Dream Alliance eventually passed away aged 2022 earlier on in 2023.
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