ADDINGTON BOY (IRE) (1988) b g  Callernish - Ballaroe Bar (Bargello)  - Won 3 hurdles and 7 chases between 1993 & 2001. Excelled in his novice campaign in 1995-96 winning the Great Yorkshire Chase (on what was only his sixth start over fences), the Mildmay Novices Chase and the Future Champion Chase at Ayr. In his first season out of novice company he won the Tripleprint Gold Cup at Cheltenham. That was surprisingly his last ever win but he was campaigned in the highest company thereafter running without success in two Gold Cups (1998 & 1999). At Aintree he put up two excellent performance in 1999 finishing fourth and fifth in 2000 before being hampered and unseating early in 2001. He also raced twice in Ireland putting up sound displays both times with a third behind Florida Pearl in 1999 Hennessy Gold Cup and a second in Punchestown`s Heineken Gold Cup a year later (after his second National). Pulled up in the 2001 Whitbread and was last seen at Worcester in June 2001. Interestingly in all three of his Nationals he was leased for the day and so ran in three different sets of colours

ART PRINCE (IRE) (1990) b g Aristocracy I - Come Now (Prince Hansel) - Somewhere in the Racing Forum pages is a post by someone who is clearly more of an anorak than myself as he rates and lists every runner in the National from about 1976. At the bottom of the list and unofficially the horse with the worst National record of the modern era sits this Martin Pipe trained horse. Two Nationals - two falls at the first fence. Away from Aintree he was not  a bad chaser winning 7 chases and 2 hurdles. Ended his career as he started it in Irish point-to-points.

DARK STRANGER (FR) (1991) b g Iveday - Abeille Royale (Turn to Mars) - Won a hurdle and 6 chases between 1995 & 2004. Useful novice chaser in 1998-99 winning four times. Started favourite for the 2000 National on the back of wins at Leicester and a seven length victory in the Mildmay of Flete Chase at the Festival. Partnered by Richard Johnson that day but A P McCoy had the ride at Aintree and there were high hopes that he would finally complete the course on his fifth ride. He didn`t - clouting the third fence and being sent into orbit. He was baulked in the melee of the Canal Turn a year later. Away from Aintree he put in two excellent performance in the Whitbread Gold Cup. A fourth place in 2000 was followed with the race of his life where he was just touched off by Bounce Back in a close finish at odds of 66-1 in 2002. Off the course for two years he raced one more time when finishing unplaced in the 2004 William Hill Trophy at the Festival.

EARTHMOVER (IRE) (1991) ch g Mister Lord - Clares Crystal (Terkonah) - Won 2 hurdles and 17 chases between 1995 & 2005. Won his first five point to points and two hunter chases in 1997 and won three more hunter chases the following year culminating with victory in the Christies Foxhunters Chase. That year he had a young Joe Tizzard in the saddle. He won the Foxhunters a second time with Rhilly Goschen on board an incredible six years later. In between he was a pretty useful handicap chaser finishing fifth in the 1999 Hennessy and third in the 1999 Welsh National but he was often let down by his jumping. He raced in two Nationals and came down at the fourth fence both times. He won some more points in the latter stages of his career and last raced at Cheltenham in April 2005. One of the best hunter chasers of the decade.

EDMOND (1992) b g Video Rock - Galia III (Baraban) - Won 3 hurdles and 6 chases between 1997 & 2002. When he lined up in the 2000 Irish Grand National he had never been out of the first three in all his completed starts including a ten length victory in the 1999 Welsh National. Would have been very fancied for the 2000 National but his owner wasn`t keen so he lined up at Fairyhouse instead where he flopped, pulling up having jumped badly. Noted as a proven mudlark and with the wettest winter on record his owner was persuaded to allow him to take his chance in 2001. One of those who would have relished the conditions he led for a circuit but appeared to be struggling when he took a heavy fall at the Chair. Didn`t race much the following season pulling up in both the Welsh and MIdlands National in what was his final race under rules. In February 2003 he won his first point to point at Walton Park but didn't win again between the flags in five attempts over the next two years.

ESPRIT DE COTTE (FR) (1992) b g Lute Antique - Royale de Cotte (Italic) - Won a hurdle and 3 chases between 1996 & 2007. Came to the UK with a big reputation and started favourite for the 1999 Becher Chase on the back of an impressive debut at Stratford. Fell in that race and thereafter pulled up in the Welsh National and finished down the field in the Kim Muir at the Festival. Clearly not living up to expectations he wasn`t that fancied for the 2000 National. He actually ran pretty well and was still in contention when he fell at second Bechers. He then pulled up in both the Whitbread and Hennessy Gold Cups and when he returned in the 2001 National he survived ten fences before deciding to stop at the eleventh sending his last minute replacement jockey Tom Doyle flying over the fence. He was then sold to run in point-to points and became a regular on the south east circuit winning four times. He raced during my brief commentating career and I had the pleasure of calling him home a few times.

FEELS LIKE GOLD (1988) b g Oats - Drom Lady (Royalty) - Won a NH flat race, a hurdle and 5 chases between 1994 & 2001. Initially trained by Martin Pipe for whom he won a seller at Newton Abbot in March 1995 but he spent most of his career with Nicky Richards. Took time to warm for new connections but eventually won two chases at Kelso and two at Ayr. Finished third in the 1999 Eider and ran a blinder in the National that year being prominent throughout before he eventually weakened to finish fifth. On his nest start he ran the race of his life to land the 1999 Becher Chase, winning by an impressive eleven lengths having taken the lead four out. Lost his form thereafter, pulling up in the Welsh National and never got into the 2000 National eventually finishing fourteenth. He unseated early in the 2000 Becher Chase and was caught up in the melee in the Canal Turn in 2001. His last three starts were all over the National fences.

GENERAL WOLFE (1989) ch g  Rolfe - Pillbox (Spartan General) - Won 2 hurdles and 8 chases between 1993 & 2003. Useful chaser in his younger days starting favourite for 1996 Kim Muir but he fell at half way when in the lead. Ended his first season over fences with a distant second behind Moorcroft Boy in the Scottish National. Fancied for the 1997 National but was never competitive and finished a very distant sixteenth. However connections were gearing up for a second attempt in 1998 and after success in the Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock things were looking good. However a tendon injury meant that he had to be put away for the season but he reappeared exactly a year later with a second win in the Peter Marsh. He lined up in 1999 and again didn`t look as if Aintree was for him and he finished twelfth. 2001 did not prove to be third time lucky as he was caught up in the melee in the first Canal Turn. Despite his shortcomings as a National horse he fared much better over one circuit finishing fifth in the 2002 Topham and put up probably his finest performance away from Haydock when he finished second to Divet Hill in the 2003 Foxhunters. He last raced under rules at Uttoxeter in May 2003 but he raced in a couple of points to points the following year.

HANAKHAM (IRE) (1999) b g  Phardante - Evas Charm (Carlsberg) - Won 5 chases between 1996 & 2003. Plagued throughout his career by injury. Smart pointer in 1994 & 1995 winning four times for Ron Treloggan (of Double Silk fame). Would have been more had it not been for tendon and back problems. Sent to Ron Hodges in 1996 and won the 1997 Sun Alliance Chase despite a bone crunching mistake at the last fence. More problems and he was off the course for nearly two years. Now in the hands of Martin Pipe he did manage a win at Cheltenham in November 1999 before another lengthy lay-off and another change of trainer. Ginger McCain sent him to Aintree and despite a fall and an unplaced in two races at Haydock and starting at 100-1 he was burdened with my selection for the race. I had always been convinced that Ginger McCain would train another National winner and have never felt more confident about an Aintree outsider. I would of course be proved right...eventually but I had the wrong horse and wrong year. To be fair he was going well...until the second fence when he hit the top and came down. He remained with McCain for the rest of his career and enjoyed a remarkable swan-song when he won two hunter chases at Bangor and a point to point in 2003 at the age of fourteen.

HOLLYBANK BUCK (IRE) (1990) b g  Buckskin - Mayrhofen (Don) - Won a hurdle and 6 chases between 1996 & 2003. Hit a purple patch of form in 1998 winning the Leopardstown Chase and the four mile slog, the Eider Chase at Newcastle. Then chased home the wonderful Young Kenny in both the Midlands and Scottish Nationals (attempts at Welsh and Irish Nationals in 1999-2000 ended with him pulling up). Finished third in the 1999 Becher Chase he ran well for a long time in the 2000 National before fading to finish seventh. Came down early in the mud a year later. Last seen in the 2004 La Touche Cup over the  Punchestown banks course.

KAKI CRAZY (FR) (1995) b g Passing Sale - Radiante Rose (Akarad) - Won 6 hurdle races and 4 chases between 1998 & 2003. Won on his hurdling debut at Clairefontaine and later won a chase at Auteuil. Moved to Martin Pipe in 2000 and was aimed at the National even though he hadn`t shown a great deal in four starts in the UK. He didn`t get very far but he was amongst the leaders when he fell at the third fence. Didn`t return to Aintree and plied his trade thereafter at mostly small meetings. He won a claiming hurdle at Southwell on his last start under rules in August 2003 and later raced unsuccessfully in point-to-points between 2007 & 2010.

LISTEN TIMMY (NZ) (1989) b g Coral Reef - Calamity (Bally Royal) - Winner on the flat and in four chases in his native New Zealand and six chases in the UK between 1997 & 2001. Won his first three chases at Uttoxteter and took to the Aintree fences well with victory in the 1999 Topham (beating Lindens Lotto by two lengths). Although he won his next start at Uttoxeter in May his form thereafter deserted him. He ran eight more times and was pulled up in five of them. In the National he pulled up both times although in 2000 he never recovered after being badly hampered at the first by a horse falling directly in front of him and to be fair he got a lot further than most of his rivals when pulling up at the Chair (again having been very badly hampered) in 2001. Raced just one more time at Ayr two weeks later. Ran in three point to points in 2002.

MERRY PEOPLE (IRE) (1988) b g Lafontaine - Merry Madness (Raise you Ten) - Won 5 hurdles and 10 chases between 1993 and 2001. Won a grade 3 chase at the now defunct Tralee racecourse in August 2000 but hadn`t won for over two years when he started at 200-1 on his UK debut in the National. But, having made up considerable ground after Valentines he was certainly not running like such an unconsidered runner as he ranged up alongside the leaders approaching the second last fence. Oh what might have been......he hit the top and came down only to be remounted to finish a distant last of seventeen finishers. Unseated in both 2000 and 2001 before ambling on his own miles ahead of the remainder for nearly two circuits. Sold immediately after the National he ran in two races in Stratford in June 2001 pulling up both times.

MISTER ONE (1991) b/br g  Buckley - Miss Redlands (Dubassof) - Won 5 chases between 1999 & 2004. Winning pointer who won novice chases at Cheltenhams Open and December meetings before finishing a distant third behind Gloris Victis in the Feltham Novices Chase. Finished third in the National Hunt Chase at the 2000 Festival. The following season he nearly managed the double at the Military meetings at Sandown winning the Royal Artillery Gold Cup before finishing second in the Grand Military Gold Cup. In the National itself he survived the first eight fences but hit Valentines and his rider was shot out the side door. Thereafter finished a very distant eighth in the Whitbread Gold Cup. He later won a National (the Devon National at Exeter) in 2002 and last raced at Cheltenham in April 2004. 

MOONDIGUA (IRE) (1992) b g  Beau Sher - Donna Chimense (Royal Gunner) - Won 2 hurdles and 3 chases between 1997 & 2001. Won 2 NH flat races and 2 hurdles in Ireland when trained by Aiden O`Brien, Moved to the UK to be trained by Martin Pipe in 1998 and won on his debut for new connections at Warwick. Useful novice in 1999-2000 winning three chases. Lightly raced thereafter pulling up in 2000 Scottish and Welsh Nationals. Spectacularly unseated at the Chair sending his pilot Shay Barry into orbit. Sold out of Martin Pipes stable at the end of the season he returned to Ireland and was last seen pulling up at Cork in November 2001. 

MORAL SUPPORT (IRE) (1992)  ch g  Zaffaran - Marions Pride (Pry) - Won 2 hurdles and 4 chases between 1997 & 2004. Started co-favourite for the 2001 National on what was only his tenth start over fences. He had won four races on the bounce in the autumn including victory in the Rehearsal Chase and had finished second in the Welsh National. Despite a disappointing performance at Haydock on his last start as a proven mud-lark who would relish the heavy conditions he was extremely well fancied. He didn`t get very far as he was in rear when he was caught up in the melee at the first Canal and he was not able to clear the fence. His form fell apart thereafter and he was subsequently pulled up in a Welsh National and unplaced in a Hennessy. He did run Gunner Welburn to five lengths in a small race at Newbury in 2003 but that was about it. He last raced at Folkestone in January 2004.

NOBLE LORD (1993) ch g Lord Bud - Chasers Bar (Oats) - Won 4 hurdles and 2 chases between 1996 & 2002. Won his first three races over hurdles in the autumn of 1996 and won a novice chase over the Mildmay course at the Becher meeting in 1998. Chased home Paris Pike in that seasons Scottish National and finished eighth in the race in 2001 after his National experience. He was only a little horse and the fences probably looked very big to him but he got as far as the thirteenth fence. Missed the 2001-02 season and only raced once more when finishing a long way adrift at Cheltenham in November 2002.

NO RETREAT (NZ) (1993) b g  Exaatic - Lerwick (Theoreau) - Won 7 chases between 1998 & 2008. Third on his sole start over hurdles in his native New Zealand. He won his first two starts over chases in the UK in November 1998 and finished third in the Dipper Novices Chase at Newcastle. The following season on his debut he won a listed race at Wincanton and that turned out to be as good as it got as a handicapper. He came to the 2001 National on the back of pulling up in the both the Great Yorkshire Chase and the De Vere Gold Cup. Very badly hampered at the Canal Turn he just about managed to crawl through the fence but his race was over and his rider Jason Maguire (making his National debut) wisely called it a day before the Chair. He never managed to get into the National again but did complete the course in a Topham, Becher Chase and Foxhunters without ever troubling the leaders. Was later a useful hunter chaser and won a couple of point to points. 

NORTHERN STARLIGHT (1991) b g Northern State - Ganadora (Good Times) - Won 9 hurdles and 7 chases between 1994 & 2003. Failed to win in twenty two starts on the flat when trained by Pat Murphy. Took nine starts to get his head in front over hurdles finally wining a seller at Taunton in September 2005 and proved that was no fluke by wining another similar contest at the Somerset track a month later. He missed 1995-96 season and when he reappeared in February 1997 he was now in the hands of Martin Pipe. He won six out of seven handicap hurdles between then and May (the only blip came when he fell at the last when leading in the Swinton Hurdle at Haydock). Went chasing the following season and won five of his first eight chases (never out of the first two). In his second season as a chaser he finished behind Red Marauder in the First National Bank Gold Cup at Ascot before landing the Tripleprint Gold Cup at Cheltenham. He didn`t win again for over a year but ran consistently in handicap company. He was on the small side but took to the National fences providing Martin Pipe and A P McCoy with their second victory in the Topham. He was very lightly raced thereafter, lining up in the 2001 National without a prep race. On the rain sodden ground the fences must have appeared huge to the little horse and he only got as far as first Bechers when he unseated Tom Scudamore who was having his first National ride. He pulled up in the Scottish National at the end of the season and when he returned to Aintree in 2002 he reverted back to the Topham where he was still in contention when he unseated five out. He last raced at Wincanton in March 2003.

PADDYS RETURN (IRE) (1992)  b g Khayasi - Bayazilda (Bustno) - Won 6 hurdles and 2 chases between 1995 & 2004. Will be remembered as the villain of the 2001 National. Having unseated Adrian Maguire at the third fence he continued riderless until the Canal Turn when he decided to refuse. Running down the fence, the blinkered animal collided with Amberleigh House and in doing started a chain reaction which put ten horses out of the race. Continued riderless and nearly did the same at the Canal on the second circuit. He unseated on his next visit in the 2001 Becher Chase and there were many who breathed a sigh of relief as he ran onto the Mildmay course out of harms away. Lets not forget that this was a very classy animal who won the 1996 Triumph Hurdle and was a very useful long distance hurdler with victories in the Champion Stayers Hurdle at the Punchestown Festival in 1997 and later that year won the valuable Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot. He was also something of a globe-trotter winning valuable hurdle races at Cagnes-Sur-Mer and contesting a French Champion Hurdle. As a chaser he won a race over the Cheltenham Cross Country course, finished second in the 2000 Becher Chase, ran in a La Touche Cup at Punchestown and finished a close fifth in Italy`s premier chase the Gran Premio di Merano in 2002. Unfortunately he sustained an injury in that race which put paid to an assault on the Velka Pardubicka and he was off the course for twenty months. He finished a long way last on his reappearance, a hurdle at Stratford in May 2004 and connections called time on his varied and exciting career.

PAPILLON (IRE) (1991) b g Lafontaine - Glens Princess (Prince Hansel) Won a hurdle and 8 chases between 1996 & 2003. Was part of  the second father and son combination to land the National for Ireland in two years after Bobbyjos success in 1999. A first National win (and ride) for Ruby Walsh and his father Ted, one of Ireland top amateur riders who had strangely only ever had one ride in the race. Won on his debut over hurdles and at Punchestown in February 1996 and nine months later won on his chase debut at Fairyhouse. Ran in the 1997 Irish National, an audacious attempt for an inexperienced six year old but he ran surprisingly well and finished fourth behind the English trained Mudahim. The following year after a disappointing performance in the Kim Muir at the Festival he finished second to Bobbyjo at Fairyhouse.  In 1999 he finished a distant fourth in the Irish Hennessy and flopped at the Festival for a second year running (unsuited by two miles in the Queen Mother Champion Chase). He was entered for the National but connections withdrew him at the last minute in order to have a third attempt at the Irish National instead. For the first time at Fairyhouse he disappointed finishing tenth behind Glebe Lad. He showed little over fences the following season and had prep races over hurdles before the 2000 National. He was available at 33-1 on the morning of the race but there were may in the racing press who fancied him - why not he was running on ground he loved, he had never failed to complete the course and he was carrying eight pounds less than Bobbyjo. Many racegoers obviously agreed with the experts. His odds plummeted during the day and he eventually started at 10-1. In the race itself he was always prominent. He led at the twenty sixth fence and was driven out by Ruby Walsh to win by one and a quarter lengths from the lightly raced Mely Moss. The following December he did what a number of recent National winners have found impossible to do - he won, and a valuable chase at that at Leopardstowns Christmas meeting. Unfortunately foot and mouth restrictions after his next start resulted in all racing in Ireland being suspended and there was talk of him not being allowed to leave Ireland to defend his Aintree crown. At the last minute travel restrictions were lifted and he duly took his place but on desperately heavy ground his chances seemed forlorn. He did well to get round having been baulked at the nineteenth and remounted. The following season he missed Aintree due to a strained knee but he was entered again in 2003 but after two lacklustre performances over fences and a disappointing display over hurdles at Punchestown in March 2003 his retirement was announced

RED MARAUDER (1990) ch g Gunner B - Cover Your Money (Precipice Wood) - Won 3 hurdles and 6 chases between 1993 & 2003. Very lightly raced winner of the 2001 Grand National who managed only twenty one starts in a ten year career. Started with a 33-1 win in a novice hurdle at Hexham and won twice more during his novice campaign. His hurdling career came to a painful end when he broke down at Carlisle in October 1994 and he was off the course for three years. When he finally returned to the racecourse he won on his chase debut at Hexham but was then absent for another ten months. In the autumn of 1999 he was finally able to stay sound long enough to put up a string of victories together, two facile wins in small fields at Carlisle and Worcester which was followed with an eleven length win in the First National Bank Gold Cup at Ascot. So impressive was he that there was briefly talk of an assault on the Gold Cup for which he had earned a quote of 50-1 but once again the problems set in. This time it was a virus and more of the dreaded leg trouble and he was off for a further fifteen months. Always running well fresh he won on his reappearance at Wetherby but was well beaten by Gloria Victis when suffering his first defeat over fences in the Racing Post Chase. Attracting each-way support he was an 18-1 shot for the National but his race did not go according to plan. He jumped poorly and fell at first Bechers. A disconsolate Richard Guest told the BBC afterwards "I don`t think we will be coming back after that". He next ran in the Irish Grand National and was unplaced behind Comanche Court. Remembering Guests words I was surprised to see him line up again in the National of 2001 - he had managed a win over three miles at Market Rasen (another win on a season debut) and had run over hurdles  as well. Others clearly remembered his performance of twelve months ago and he started at odds of 33-1. This was the year of the freakishly Somme-like conditions that saw only seven horses survive a circuit and just two left by second Bechers. Somehow he was surviving despite putting up a shocking display of jumping. Fortunately he had a rider of extreme bravery, fortitude and patience who somehow nursed the horse over the final quarter of the race and by the second last fence he had drawn clear to win by a distance from his sole rival Smarty. An emotional Guest lept off almost immediately after the winning post as the horse looked absolutely exhausted. It was an amazing performance for a horse who connections had conceded was not a natural jumper. Tendon problems and heat in his leg prevented a return to Aintree in 2002 to defend his crown but he was kept  in training with a possible attempt on the Hennessy mooted. In the end it was not until February 2003 that he next saw a racecourse when in a hurdle at Newcastle he was given a tender ride by Guest to finish fourth. The 2003 National was the plan and he was still in the race until National week when those dreaded leg troubles returned and his retirement was announced.

SPANISH MAIN (1994)  b g  Spanish Place - Willow Grouse (Giolla Mea) - Won 4 hurdles and 3 chases between 1998 & 2006. Still a novice when he lined up at Aintree and was having just his sixth start over fences. Unseated at the very first fence and finished a very distant nineteenth in the Scottish National. Competed in minor races thereafter and did manage a win at Exeter in 2005. He last raced at Warwick in March 2006. Showed little in eight point to points in 2007 & 2008.

TRESOR DE MAI (1994) ch g Grand Tresor - Lady Night (Pompon Rouge) - Won 3 hurdles and 6 chases between 1998 & 2005.  Won four times in his native France in 1998 and won on his UK debut at Lingfield in January 1999. On the back of that success was sent of odds on favourite in valuable novice chase at Warwick which attracted just two runners. He was beaten a head by future Champion Chase winner Flagship Uberalles and was then to finish behind the same horse on each of his next three races, the Arkle at the festival, Maghull Novices Chase at Aintree and Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter on his first start of the next campaign. Won the valuable Tote Silver Cup at Ascot in 2000 and was running consistently well in top class races. Didn`t appear an obvious National horse and he didn`t run like one either falling at the second fence in 2001 and he pulled up in the Scottish National two weeks later. Thereafter showed his liking for Ascot by wining two more races there and continued racing in good company until January 2005.

UNSINKABLE BOXER (IRE) (1989) b g Sheer Grit - Softly Sarah (Haraby) - Won a NH flat race, 5 hurdles and 2 chases between 1993 & 2005. Trained initially by his breeder Mary Conlon in Ireland he managed just a sole win in a flat race at Tipperary in thirteen races. Then he moved to the UK but showed little in three starts including finishing down the field at 150-1 in the 1995 Supreme Novices Hurdle. Moving to Martin Pipe however he was revitalised in the 1997-98  campaign winning the Gold Card Hurdle Final at the Cheltenham Festival and the Sefton Novices Hurdle at Aintree. He saw his first fence at the relatively late age of ten but, after hacking up in novice chases at Uttoxeter and Warwick talk of a Gold Cup assault was raised. He was of course woefully inexperienced for such a task and was pulled up in the blue riband. He then disappeared for nearly two years and after competing in a couple of points to freshen him up the audacious plan was to run him in the National. He fared considerably better than many that day and was one of the seven brave souls who set out on the final circuit before he called it a day at the nineteenth fence. He returned to Ireland and ended his days with his breeder who raised a few eyebrows when she turned him out in a hurdle race at Naas in January 2005 at the age of sixteen. Starting a 100-1 he finished a distant last of the six finishers.

VILLAGE KING (IRE) (1993) b g  Roi Danzig - Honorino (Blushing Groom) - Won 2 hurdles and 7 chases between 1997 & 2005. A winner on the flat he made an impressive start to his chasing career winning his first four starts in the summer/autumn of 1998. By the time he lined up in the 2000 National he had only once been out of the first three in seventeen starts under rules (the blip came when he finished unplaced behind Marlborough in the 2000 National Hunt Handicap Chase). In the National itself he fell at the  twentieth when in contention and a year later he was caught up at the melee at the first Canal Turn. Later finished tenth in the Scottish National, twice ran in the Becher Chase and tried his luck over the Cheltenham cross country course. He did win win one fairly valuable chase, the Golden Miller at Cheltenham in 2002. He last was seen at Cheltenham in April 2005.