BANJO (FR) (1990) b g Beyssac (FR) - Fabinou (FR) (Cavan) - Won hurdle and 7 chases between 1993 & 1999. Won four times at Auteuil after showing little over hurdles. Sold to Martin Pipe and was a very useful novice chaser in 1994-95 wining on debut at Haydock and then the Scilly Isles Novice Chase at Sandown. Finished third in the RSA at the Festival and ended his novice campaign with an easy win in the Mildmay Chase at Aintree. He was then struck down by colic and was off the course or two years. When he reappeared now in the care of David Nicholson it was surprising that the Gold Cup was chosen as his comeback race and clearly this was too stiff a task as he was pulled up when tailed off. He won on his debut the following season at Cheltenham and there were high hopes that he had returned to something like his best. However it was a false dawn and he showed little thereafter, a distant sixth in the Welsh National was followed by a first fence fall in the National. Last seen over the cross country course at Cheltenham in January 1999. He was then transferred to Paul Nicholls but he never ran for him. Carried the most distinctive black and white blinkers mirroring his owners colours.

CELTIC ABBEY (1988) b g Celtic Cone - Cogaleena (Coglrama) - Won 6 chases between 1994 & 2001. Came from the pointing field winning twice in 1994 and was also victorious that year in two hunter chases at Uttoxeter and Stratford. Unfancied and fell in the 1995 Cheltenham Foxhunters but ended the season runner up in the valuable Horse & Hound Cup at Stratford in June. Won another point in 1996 and ran much better in the Foxhunters finishing third. Ended the season on a high with victory over Double Silk at Cheltenham and he went one better at Stratford, Lightly raced the following year he gave Richard Johnson his first ride in the National and they were with the leaders when he unseated at he Chair. Riderless he nearly carried out the eventual winner Lord Gyllene at the water. He was an early faller in the 1998 race. He won hunter chases in 1999 & 2000 and was last seen out at Hereford in May 2001.

CHALLENGER DU LUC (FR) (1990) b g Chamberlin (FR) - Islande II (FR) (Tiepoletto) - Won 2 hurdles and 5 chases between 1994 & 2000. Potentially a top class chaser with victories in the Cathcart Cup at the 1996 Festival in his novice year and the Murphys Gold Cup on his first start in his second season. Ran in two Gold Cups and three King Georges and a number of other top events. Usually finished second and earned the dreaded Timeform "squiggle" in 1997-98 for his reputation as a horse who was not up to a fight and who settled for second place when challenged. His failure to See More Business in 1997 King George VI Chase being a case in point. Cruising at the last he overtook See More Business on the short Kempton run-in and capitulated as soon as he was headed close home. He just wasn't a battler finishing second five times that season. It was thought that the challenge of Aintree might focus his mind but he was among five first fence fallers. He lost his way thereafter and it was rather sad to see him trailing in the Coral Cup in the 1999 Festival. Last seen in minor company in Stratford in June 2000 - oh how the mighty had fallen.

CIEL DE BRION (FR) (1990) b gg Shafoun (FR) - Jupe de Laine (FR) (Vieux Chateau) - Won hurdle ad 4 chases. Won four times at Auteuil but was only an average chaser and certainly not as good as the other French raiders sent out by his astute trainer Francois Doumen to run in the UK in the eighties and nineties. Made his UK debut in a hurdle at Fontwell in February 1996 which he won and later that year he finished fourth in the Kim Muir at the Festival. In 1997 he returned to the UK and finished a very creditable fourth in the Hennessy and filled the same position in a chase at Kemptons Christmas meeting. Ran well in the National but was held when taking a tired looking fall five out. He pulled up in the valuable Prix la Haye Jouselin at Auteuil in November 1998 and was not seen out again

COURT MELODY (IRE) (1988) b g Whistling Deer - Overwood Grove (Welsh Saint) (1998) - Won 2 NHF, 4 hurdles & 9 chases between 1992 & 1999. Moody individual who's career was a mixture of success and failure. Was just as likely to win as he was to  pull up/refuse. Useful hurdler for Michael Hourigan in Ireland but when he came to the UK he failed to finish in five of his first six starts before he was finally successful at Worcester and Newton Abbot in November/December 1995. Won several times at Sandown and finished fifth in 1997 Scottish National and second in that years Becher Chase having had every chance at he last. Fell at Bechers first time in the 1998 National and did not return to Aintree. Finished unplaced in 1998 Whitbread. Didn't appear to enjoy the Cheltenham cross country course on his one visit in 1999 where he refused when behind but then enjoyed later success when he lifted the Grand Military Gold Cup on his next start and only just failed to win both military chases at Sandown when he was second in the Royal Artillery Gold Cup. Last raced at Chepstow in May 1999.

FABRICATOR (1986) b g Lafontaine - Brompton Roase (Sun Prince) - Won NHF, hurdle and 4 chases between 1990 & 1998. Did most of his racing in Ireland where he was nothing more than an average chaser. Made his debut for new UK connections at 1998 Festival where he was tailed off in the Grand Annual. Completely unfancied in the National he was slowly away and fell at the third. He was already twelve and on his next start at Market Rasen he made mistakes and fell when tailed off. Probably wisely he was not seen out again

GENERAL CRACK (IRE) (1989) ch g Lancastrian - Barna Havna (Crash Course) - Won NHF, hurdle & 6 chases between 1994 & 2001. Won his sole Irish bumper before moving to Paul Nicholls. Fell in National Hunt Chase at 1996 Festival and then won five on the bounce culminating with victory in the Charisma Gold Cup at Kempton in October. Fancied for the Hennessy Gold Cup he ran lifelessly, pulled up and was found to have an irregular blood count which kept him off the course for a year. On his return he was not given a hard race and then pulled up at Wincanton. Next raced in the National and appeared unsuited by the conditions and pulled up relatively early on the first circuit. Very lightly raced thereafter and missed 1999 & 2000. Was sent to Pardubice in the Czech Republic to contest a cross country event in October 1998 but failed to finish. Last seen at Uttoxeter in April 2001.

GIMME FIVE (1987) b g Deep Run - Cill Dara (Lord Gayle (USA)) - Won 2NHF, 3 hurdles and 2 chases between 1991 & 1998. Finished down the field in 1994 Gold Card Hurdle Final at the Festival. Put up his best performance when beaten a neck by Life of a Lord in 1995 Kerry National and on his next start won the valuable Troytown Chase at Navan. Off the course for two years afterwards and not so good on his return. He was tailed off and pulled up at half way in 1998 National Hunt Handicap Chase. In the National he survived in the very heavy conditions and came home a very distant fifth of the six finishers. Raced just two more times and was last seen out in the 1998 Troytown Chase

GO UNIVERSAL (1988) br g Teofane - Lady Dorcet (Condorcet (FR)) - Won 6 chases between 1993 & 2000. Showed nothing over hurdles but won on his chase debut at Chepstow in October 1994. Struck up a sequence of five straight wins between August & December 1995 including a race over the Mildmay course at the Becher meeting, Put up by far his best performance in 1996 Topham where he made nearly all the running and was just touched off in the closing stages by Joe White. Very lightly raced thereafter and moved stables from Charlie Brooks to Noel Chance for whom the 1998 National was his first start for new connections, an incredible four hundred and thirty four days since his previous run. He ran well for a circuit but hit the Chair and weakened so rapidly that he was not to asked to go out on the second circuit. Later ran in points and was last seen under rules in a hunter chase at Newbury in March 2000.

GREENHILL TARE AWAY (1988) b g Oats - Burlington Belle (Galivanter) - Won 4 hurdles and 5 chases between 1993 & 2000. Won five of his first eight chases in 1994 & 1995 before refusing when breaking a blood vessel in the RSA Chase at the Festival. Ran a superb race in the old Mildmay/Cazalet Memorial Chase at Sandown in January 1996 engaging in a titanic struggle up the Sandown hill against Sibton Abbey before both were caught close to the line by the fast finishing Superior Finish (this was jockey Peter Hobbs last ride). Off the course for nearly two years he showed little before his attempt in the 1998 National. He may have been unfancied but he ran an absolute blinder. He led for most of the race and was still in contention (although weakening) when he hit the top of the fourth last and unseated rider Simon McNeill who wisely did not remount (they still would have been in a with a chance of some place money). Didn't run much under rules after that and went pointing . 

GRIFFINS BAR (1988) b g Idiots Delight - Milly Kelly (Murrayfield) (1998) - Won one chase between 1992 & 1998. Gained the sole success of his career in a small race at Market Rasen in November 1996. Started 200-1 with form figures of PPP0U-0F in the 1998 National but that does not tell the whole story as he had taken well to the Aintree fences in two of his three previous attempts over the course. In the 1997 Topham he was in contention in third place when he unseated his rider after the Canal Turn and he ran the race of his life at odds of 100-1 in the 1997 Becher Chase. Having been prominent throughout he was only beaten a total of nine lengths in fifth place by Samlee. Blotted his copy book though with a second fence fall in the Topham two days before he lined up in the 1998 National. Sadly he hit a piece of false ground after jumping the fifth fence safely and came down breaking his shoulder which necessitated his destruction. One of three fatalities in the race there was an understandable outpouring of angst after the race and a subsequent enquiry ruled that no horse could run in the National if it had run after the forty eight hour declarations. It is now not possible for a horse to try and win both the Topham and the National in the same year.

HILLWALK (1986) b g Croghan Hill-Bells Walk Fancy (Entranal) - Won 3 NHF, hurdle and 8 chases between 1990 & 2000. Won an Irish Point in 1990 and three of his first four flat races before he beat twenty six rivals in a maiden hurdle at Punchestown in October 1992. Moved to the UK where he was a stalwart in long distance chases, the highlights being three wins in the summer of 1996 and lifting the amateur riders chase at the 1997 Open meeting at Cheltenham. Finished seventh in the 1995 Scottish National. Didn't act on the very heavy conditions he encountered at Aintree in 1998 and was one of several who were pulled up at half way. Last seen out in a point to point at Marks Tey in April 2000

HIM OF PRAISE (IRE) (1990) b g Paen-Tamed (Rusticaro (FR) - Won a hurdle and 6 chases between 1996 & 2003. Having been successful in his sole Irish point in April 1995 he was also successful on what proved to be his sole start over hurdles at Sandown later that year. Very useful long distance chaser running up a sequence of five straight wins in 1997-98 culminating with victory in the now defunct Anthony Mildmay/Peter Cazalet Memorial Chase at Sandown which, following a second in the Greenalls Grand National Trial made him one of the favourites for the 1998 National where he started at 8-1. He was struggling and weakening when he refused four from home pitching Charlie Swan (in what was his last National ride) over the fence. The following season he ran in various long distance chases including the Hennessy, Welsh and Midlands National but when he did return to Aintree it was in the 1999 Becher Chase where he chased home the impressive Young Kenny. Lightly raced thereafter he finished second in his sole point and last raced at Fontwell in February 2003.

INTO THE RED (1984) ch g Over The River (FR) - Legal Fortune (Cash and Courage) - Won hurdle and 6 chases between 1988 & 1998. Inauspicious start to his career over fences, running out at Stratford on his debut then falling at Plumpton before making it third time lucky when he won at Stratford. Developed into a very useful long distance chaser winning 1993 Eider and finishing second in the Midlands National. Ran well for a very long time on his Aintree debut in 1994 National and got a lot further than may that day until unseating at the very last fence when held in fifth place. The following autumn he won the Becher Chase by fifteen lengths over Feathered Gale and finished fifth in the 1995 National (and down the field a year later). In between he became the first dual winner of the Becher Chase in 1996 when he beat the evergreen Young Hustler. In 1995 he also became a rare British visitor to France when he contested the Grand Steeplechase De Paris falling five out when out of contention. He retired after pulling up at half way in the 1998 National. A true Aintree specialist he jumped a total of 149 National fences successfully.  

JOE WHITE (1986) ch g Tampero (FR) - Fiery rose (Boreen FR)) - Won a hurdle and 5 chases between 1990 & 1998. Fairly mediocre chaser in Ireland when trained by Tommy Carberry (finished unplaced in an Irish National and Galway Plate). Won three times for new connections in 1995-96 culminating with a last gasp victory by a head over Go Universal in the Topham. Fell in the Becher Chase later that year and pulled up lame at Musselburgh at the end of 1996. He did not see a racecourse again until the 1998 National where he pulled up before the Chair. That was his last start over rules although he did run a year later in a point to point at Penshurst. 

KILLESHIN (1986) bl g Al Sirat - Spin Off (Wrekin Ridge) - Won 5 chases between 1990 & 2000. Quirky individual who loved soft ground and who also liked to come from way off the pace. Possibly the only horse listed here for whom the four and half miles of the National course was a little on the short side. Absolutely useless in the early part of his career when trained by Karl Burke only once reaching the frame in thirteen starts. Proved a much better hunter chaser for John Manners in 1994 winning a maiden at Leicester, a hunter chase at Fontwell and then the Aintree Foxhunters coming from behind to steal victory in the closing stages. The following year he was tried in handicaps and lost his form so badly that his rating dropped meaning that he was ineligible for the 1996 National. Ironically during that season he won a long distance chase at Taunton and the valuable Eider Chase at Newcastle so he would have been a good addition in what actually turned out to be a substandard National with a dearth of runners. He started favourite for that seasons Midlands Grand National but he fell two out. He did get into the 1997 National and was predictably outpaced although he did pass tired horses to eventually finish a very respectable seventh. During 1997 he also finished unplaced in the Scottish National and was fourth behind Earth Summit in the Welsh equivalent The 1998 National was billed as his final race and again he allowed himself to be at the back for most of the race until he was hampered and brought down four fences from home. He was remounted and finished in his own time. Surprisingly he popped up again in 2000 where he was pulled up in two point to points. 

MAPLE DANCER (1986) b g Viking (USA) - New York Rose (pieces of Eight) - Won 4 hurdles & 7 chases  between 1990 & 1999. Did all his winning in snatches. Won two hurdles in ten days in June 1991 when trained in Ireland. Won twice in January 1992 and three times on the bounce in July-August 1996. Then was off the course for a year and when he returned his form deserted him and he lined up at Aintree with form figures 0PPP. Lost his place after twelve fences and when he literally climbed through the thirteenth he came to a stop. Last raced at Newton Abbot in June 1999.

PASHTO (1987) b g Persian Bold - Epure (Bellypha) - Won 2 hurdles and 3 chases between 1991 & 1998. Three times winner on flat when trained by Barry Hills including over two miles at Newmarket (finished down the field in 1990 Cesarawich). Won on hurdles debut at Newbury and on his next start finished twelfth in the 1991 Triumph. Highly tried over hurdles the following season which yielded one win in a big field at Hereford. Won first two novice chases during 1994-95 season at Huntingdon and Cheltenham but pulled up when favourite for the Feltham Novices Chase at Kempton. Didn't really live up to that initial promise but did win a third chase at Wincanton in March 1996 and finished third over the Mildmay course at that years National meeting. Lightly raced thereafter and was unconsidered for the 1998 National (his fourth run at the meeting). He was a first fence faller and whilst he was quick on his feet within minutes he had collapsed and died.

POND HOUSE (IRE) (1989) b g Phardante (FR) - Arctic Tack (Arctic Slave) (1998) - Won 7 chases between 1994 & 1998. Ran his best races on firm/good to firm and had only once run further than two and a half miles. His previous visit to Aintree in the 1997 Topham ended at the first fence. He also had not run since winning a small race at Cartmel the previous August so he did not seem an obvious National type. However he usually jumped soundly and was still going well when he lost his action after the fourteenth and was pulled up. He was found to be lame and after a spell at the Liverpool Veterinary centre he was retired.

RADICAL CHOICE (IRE) (1989) b g Radical - Shule Doe (Royal Buck) - Won a hurdle and chase between 1994 & 1999. Very lightly raced and only ran seventeen times in total. Won his sole hurdle beating twenty horses at Catterick in January 1996 and won his sole chase on his debut at Newcastle in December 1997 (after nearly two years off the course). Ran in the National on only his fifth start over fences and was pulled up at halfway. Last seen pulling up at Hexham in April 1999

ROUGH QUEST (1986) b g Crash Course - Our Quest (Private Walk) - Won a hurdle race and 7 chases between 1991 & 1999. The 1996 hero who survived the scare of an objection and stewards enquiry after he undoubtably hampered runner up Encore Un Peu at the Elbow. Fell on his debut over hurdles on what was his only appearance in 1990-91 but developed into a useful novice chaser winning his first two starts over fences and finishing fourth in a strong renewal of the RSA Chase behind future National winner Miinnehoma. Leg injury confined him to just one start the following season and he fell in both the Racing Post Chase and on his Aintree debut in the Topham in 1994 (although he was in contention when he came down). He had a new trainer for the following year which netted his most valuable win so far, a  nine length triumph in the National Hunt Handicap Chase at the Festival. He also won a handicap at the Punchestown Festival at the end of the season. Whilst his jumping still could let him down he was now in the form of his life and prior to his National he had finished runner up in the Hennessy and won the Racing Post Chase at Kempton. Then came a superb second place behind the very impressive Imperial Call in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. It was a no brainer at Aintree really and as favourite his odds of 7-1 seemed incredibly generous. It was not a classic National by any means with an unusually small field of twenty seven but he jumped well, moved into a prominent position and swept passed Encore Un Peu at he Elbow. There is no doubt in my mind that, as he hung left, he hampered the runner up and I am sure had it been a normal race he would have been demoted in the stewards room. But no horse had ever been disqualified in the National and no one wants to win the race by default. The following season was a bit of a non-event. Niggling injuries meant that he missed his intended warm up races for his first target the King George VI Chase and he lined up in of all things a novice hurdle at Folkestone (which he won easily). In the King George he finished a very distant second behind One Man (the position flatters him, he was some way behind second placed Mr Mulligan who fell at the last). Tendon injury curtailed that season. He was off the course for another year but in 1997-98 he still managed to finish third in the King George but his jumping let him down again when he fell when behind in the Gold Cup. He took his chances at Aintree but was struggling in the mud and was pulled up when well beaten two out. He did win a hunter chase at Haydock the following March but he took a very heavy fall at the big open ditch in the 1999 Foxhunters and connections called time on his career. It is noticeable that his National victory was the only time he completed the National course in four attempts. He enjoyed a long retirement before he died at the age of thirty in October 2016. At the time he was the oldest surviving National winner.

SCOTTON BANKS (IRE) (1989) b g Le Moss (IRE) - Boherdeel (Boreen) - Won 2 hurdles and 10 chases between 1993 & 1998. Won first three chases at Wetherby and Nottingham, pulled up in RSA, finished third to Banjo in Mildmay Chase and then won two more novice events at Stratford in the late spring. Very useful in 1995-96 winning the Peter Marsh Chase and his greatest moment came with a fifteen length victory over Barton Bank in the Martell Cup at the Grand National meeting. Pulled up in Whitbread Gold Cup on his next start. Started 1996-97 with a last of four behind One Man in the Charlie Hall Chase and then disappointed when fancied for the Becher Chase. Didn't seem to adapt well to the fences and finished tailed off last of four finishers. Lost his way thereafter and was a surprise entry for the 1998 National but he equipped himself far better this time and was still in touch when he unseated at the fence after Valentines on the second circuit. Pulled up in a second Whitbread on his next start which was his final appearance under rules. Won a point to point the following year.

WHAT A HAND (1988) ch g Nearly A Hand - Kid Star (Some Hand) - Won 4 chases between 1996 & 1999. Very useful between the flags between 1994 & 1997 wining seven times and remaining unbeaten whenever he completed the course. Beat Brown Windsor in a Windsor hunter chase on his debut under rules. Moved to Ireland briefly in 1997 and won two more hunter chases. Was sent to Paul Nicholls for the 1997-98 season but was unable to add to his winning tally. Hampered and fell at the first fence in the National and finished unplaced in the La Touche Cup at Punchestown on his next start. Ended his career as he started winning point to points in 2000.

WINTER BELLE (USA) (1988) b g Sportin Life (US) - Belle O'Reason (US) (Hail to Reason (US)) - Won 2 chases, 2 hurdles & 2 NH flat races between 1992 & 1998. Originally trained in Ireland where he was very successful, won his first two NH flat races before finishing third in the 1992 Festival Bumper. The following year on the back of two novice hurdle wins he returned to the Festival as a fancied runner for the Ballymore Hurdle and finished eighth. After that he won on the flat at Clonmel. In 1994-95 he was a fairly useful novice chaser but didn't win but remarkably during the summer picked up four races on the level. Moved to Howard Johnsons yard in 1997-98 he finally managed to win over fences winning twice at Catterick before finishing sixth in the Kim Muir on his third visit to the Festival. He was outclassed and pulled up in the National and also pulled up in the Whitbread on what was his final start over rules. Thereafter he ran in point-to-points winning once at Barbury Castle in 1999.

YEOMAN WARRIOR (1987) ch g Tug of War - Annies Pet (Normandy) - Won 2 chases between 1992 & 1998. Showed nothing over hurdles but won his second chase at Folkestone in December 1994. Had to wait over three years for win number two (courtesy of a thirty length win in a conditionals event at Cheltenham) but put up his best performance when going down only three lengths to Bells Life in the 1997 Topham. Pulled up in the National on what was his final start as he suffered a tendon injury and was retired.