AD HOC (IRE) (1994) b g Strong Gale - Knockarctic (Quayside) - Won a hurdle and 5 chases between 1999 & 2005. Probably the best horse of the decade to never complete the course in the National as each of his three attempts ended on the floor. Won his first three starts over fences culminating in a novice event on Scottish Grand National day at Ayr in 2000. He then failed to finish in his next three starts before ending his second season on a high note with a five length second behind Gingembre in the Scottish National followed by victory in what was to be the final running of the Whitbread Gold Cup. From then on the National was the target and his campaigns for the following two years were tailor made for an assault on Aintree. He raced just three times before the 2002 National finishing third in the William Hill Trophy at the Festival  and a year later to preserve his handicap mark he ran mostly over hurdles (winning a novice hurdle, his sole success over timber on the way) before a second third place in the William Hill Trophy. Both trips to Aintree though ended in disappointment. In 2002 he was cruising with Paul Carberry when he was brought down four out by the equally fancied Davids Lad (Carberry was convinced they would have won) whist in 2003 he was riding a waiting race when he misjudged the nineteenth (too far out to say how he would have done had he stood up). After this second disappointment he won what was now called the Atthe races Gold Cup at Sandown. In 2001 he had slogged home on heavy ground but this year he put in an equally impressive performance on good going. Unfortunately the following year when being aimed at his third National he was injured in February and had to miss the race and when he lined up in 2005 he was clearly passed his best and was in rear when he fell at second Bechers. A deserved retirement beckoned.

ARCTIC COPPER (1994) b g Montelimar - MIss Penguin (General Assembly) - Tough cookie who started 200-1 in the 2005 National and finished well down the field. However thereafter he raced in Irish point-to-points and was a revelation winning eighteeen out of thirty three starts between the flags in four years. 

ASTONVILLE (FR) (1994) b g Top Ville - Astonishing (Vacilante) - Won 2 hurdles and 2 chases between 2000 & 2008. One time useful chaser/hurdler in France winning three times at Auteuil and once at Enghein. Bought by the Wilson family at the end of 2004. The Wilsons liked to have runners in the championship races (usually French imports with a semblance of form) all with no chance and stating at ridiculously long odds so it was perhaps not that surprising to see this one line up in the Champion Hurdle at odds of 500-1 (having finished tailed off in two hurdles and pulled up in the Racing Post Chase beforehand). He finished tailed off and three days later pitched up at similar odds in the Gold Cup. He got around but again miles behind the others. There were some who said that horses of his calibre had no right to line up in such races but the Wilsons paid the fees so why not have a bit of fun ? So he lined up in the National where he actually performed surprisingly well. Up with the leaders on the first circuit his rider suddenly found the horse lose his action after crossing the Anchor bridge. Wisely rider Barry Crowley immediately pulled up and dismounted only to find that the horse was perfectly sound. He changed stables and returned to France to run in their premier race the Gand Steeplechase de Paris where he fell when tailed off. He returned to Cheltenham in 2006 for another tilt at the Champion Hurdle, again he started at 500-1 and finished tailed off although like the previous year he did beat another runner home. He was sold soon after and ended his career running in points and he won one in 2007 in bizarre circumstances (well held fourth when the leader fell at the last and the second and third were both hampered and unseated - the date ? 1st April). Last seen under rules in a hunter chase at Folkestone in February 2008. 

BALLYBOUGH RASHER (1995) b g  Broken Hearted - Chat her Up (Proverb) - Won 2 hurdles and 4 chases between 2000 & 2007. Won two chases over the Mildmay course in October 2001 and November 2002. Caused a major upset when landing the 2003 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby at odds of 40-1 beating the wonderful Marlborough by six lengths. Lightly raced thereafter and he was unconsidered when he lined up in the 2005 National (refusing second Bechers when behind). Only raced three times thereafter pulling up each time. Last raced at Wincanton in January 2007.

BINDAREE  (IRE) (1994) ch g  Roselier - Flowing Tide (Main Reef) - Won 4 hurdles and 5 chases between 1999 & 2005. When he landed the Welsh National in December 2003 (beating Sir Rembrant by half a length) he became only the fourth horse since the war to win both the Chepstow classic and the Grand National. His Aintree victory was something of a surprise as he was relatively unconsidered at 25-1 and stable jockey Carl Llewellyn who was to partner him all his races bar this one opted for his more fancied stable companion Beau. Jamie Goldstein was waiting in the wings to take the ride but he broke his leg in the week leading up to the race at Ludlow so Gold Cup winning jockey Jim Culloty stepped in. Llewellyn and Beau came down at the fourteenth and then proceeded to give his stable mate a good run for his money whilst riderless. Bindaree was amongst the leader by the Chair and took the lead at second Bechers. With the leaders from then on but by the last he was two lengths behind Whats Up Boys. Poised to challenge on the outside the grey veered right, Culloty switched course and dramatically overhauled the grey yards from the line to win decisively by one and a quarter lengths. He recorded the fastest time of the decade. Whilst he was only a second season chaser he had been highly tried in his first season over fences (he won four novice hurdles in a row and had finished fourth in the 2000 Royal & Sun Alliance Novice Hurdle at the Festival) winning three times and had shown his liking for the National fences with an encouraging fourth in the mud in the 2001 Topham. He hadn`t managed to win in the 2001-02 season before Aintree and had been some way behind Whats Up Boys in the Hennessy. He was also beaten in the Welsh National and had finished seventh in the National Hunt Handicap Chase hence his relatively long odds. Apart from his National win he had no luck in five other visits to Aintree. He was a surprise early faller in the Becher Chase in 2002 and fell at Valentines when travelling strongly in 2003. In the National he never troubled the leaders again. In 2003 he made a terrible mistake at first Bechers when he was down on his belly and whilst he made up ground past tired horses he finished a never dangerous sixth. He got home in his own time in 2005 and in 2004 he was unlucky to be hampered at first Bechers and Llewellyn had no chance. Apart from his Welsh National win he showed little thereafter but he did finish second twice in the Rehearsal Chase when it was still run at Chepstow. He last raced in the 2005 Becher Chase where he finished for the first time albeit a distant eighth. Connections were eyeing another tilt at the National but afterwards he was found to have damaged a hind leg so the decision was taken to retire him.

DOUBLE HONOUR (FR) (1998) gr g (2005) Highest Honour - Silver Cobra (Silver Hawk) - Won 3 hurdles and 5 chases between 2003 & 2006. Boasts the best flat form of all those listed here. Won six races on the level including victory in a listed race at Hamburg in Germany. Finished third in the 2002 Queen Alexandra Stakes at Royal Ascot and ran in the race in both 2003 and 2004. Over timber he won his first two races and finished tenth in the 2003 Sun Alliance Hurdle. Pretty useful novice chaser as well finishing third in the 2004 Mildmay Novices Chase at the Aintree festival. Made debut over National fences in 2004 Becher Chase finishing fourth. Held solid each way claims in the 2005 National having finished second behind Forest Gunner in the Red Square Vodka Gold Cup at Haydock. At Aintree he was close up when he unseated at the twenty first. A week later he finished a credible fourth in the Scottish National. The following season he fell at Bechers in the Becher Chase and then won his most valuable race over the jumps, the Tim Molony Chase at Haydock. That victory was hard fought and it must have taken its toil as thereafter his form under rules deserted him and he finished a distant last in the Scottish National. His last race saw him finishing tailed off in a hurdle at Haydock in May 2006. His career under rules was over at the tender age of eight but he later was a successful pointer wining seven of his twenty starts between the flags between 2006 & 2010.

EUROPA (1996) b g Jupiter Island - Dublin Ferry (Celtic Cone) - Won 2 NH flat races, 2 hurdles and 6 chases between 2000 & 2006. Never quite reproduced his initial promise which saw him win six out of his first ten starts under rules. He was unfancied at 150-1 on the back of being brought down in his previous race, the Mildmay of Flete at the Festival (the second time he had landed up on the floor in the race). and was never a factor finishing amongst the backmarkers. Retained some ability and despite not winning the following season he finished placed in a valuable handicap at Newbury and was second in the Great Yorkshire Chase (run that year at Southwell). Sold for 33,000 guineas at the end of the season presumably to run in points but he only managed two.

FOLY PLEASANT (FR) (1994) ch g Vaguely Pleasant - Jeffologie (Jefferson) - Won five times at Pau in his native France. Specialised in finishing second in big races (Thomas Pink Gold Cup 01, Tripleprint Gold Cup 02, Pillar Property Chase 03). Was also second in the Christies Foxhunters, his race before Aintree. Never returned after his National exertions but he stayed in training until 2008 winning hunter chases at Warwick (Feb 06) and Ludlow (March 07) and his only point-to-point.

FONDMORT (FR) (1996) b g Cyborg - Hansie (Sukawa) - Won 2 hurdles and 7 chases between 1999 & 2006. Extremely popular horse who made Cheltenham his own with a series of gutsy performances both in victory and defeat. Won a small race at Auteuil and won on his UK debut, a novice hurdle at Kempton on Boxing day 2000. He also won on his chasing debut at Kempton before adding the valuable Henry VII Novices Chase at Sandown and a novice chase at Kemptons Christmas meeting. Thereafter all his wins came at Cheltenham although he was no match for Moscow Flyer in the 2002 Arkle and he was also well beaten in the Maghull Novices Chase on Grand National day. He won the Tripleprint Gold Cup in 2002 and finished second in the Mildmay of Flete Challenge Cup at the Festival. The following season he won the Paddy Power Gold Cup at the Open meeting and also finished placed in what was the last running of the Mildmay of Flete. In 2005 he ran his heart out in defeat when he was just touched off in the inaugural Daily Telegraph Chase at the Festival which was his final race before his lone assault on the National. Held up on the first circuit he was making steady progress on the run down to Bechers but he was hampered at the brook and steadily lost his place before pulling up in the closing stages. When he returned to Aintree a year later it was in the calmer waters of the Melling Chase but he ran surprisingly badly and pulled up. He enjoyed his most emotional success when appearing at the Festival for the fifth consecutive year when he finally won a race, the Ryanair Chase. In a clear lead at the last he weakened in the closing stages but he just held on to beat future Bet 365 Gold Cup winner Lacdoudal by one and a quarter lengths. It was his penultimate start. In November 2006 he fractured his pelvis on the gallops and a subsequent haemorrage meant that it was touch and go whether he would survive. Thankfully he did and he was one of the star attractions at the Lambourn Open Day the following April. 

FRENCHMAN`S CREEK (1994) b g Emperor Fountain - Hollow Creek (Tarquogan) - Won a hurdle and 3 chases between 1999 & 2005. Won 2002 National Hunt Handicap Chase at the Festival and finished third to Bounce Back in the At theraces Gold Cup at Sandown. Reportedly strained a tendon and was off the course for two and a half years. Not so good when returned, pulled up in the 2004 Hennessy and then raced three times without success at Cheltenham. Unseated at the very first fence at Aintree, suffered a leg injury  and was retired.

GLENELLY GALE (IRE) (1994) b/br g Strong Gale - Smart Fashion (Carlsburg) - Won 1 hurdle and 5 chases between 1999-2005. Trained for most of his career by Arthur Moore in Ireland, the highlight being victory in the valuable James Nicholson Champion Chase at Down Royal in 2003. The National was his last start for Moore and he made a lot of the early running before running out of puff and pulling up three fences from home. Didn`t race much thereafter and ended up running in point-to-points where he was successful once in sixteen starts between 2007 & 2009.

JAKARI (FR) (1997) b g Appeldoorn - Tartifume II (Mistigri) - Won a hurdle and 5 chases between 2001 & 2006. Useful chaser at best winning three times during the 2003-04 season (at Ascot, Cheltenham and Ayr). Just had two starts before the 2005 National and ran well to finish just six lengths behind Kelami in fifth place in the National Hunt Handicap Chase. Didn`t appear to like Aintree and pulled up before the nineteenth fence. Didn`t achieve much afterwards and last raced under rules at Uttoxeter in May 2006. Showed some ability between the flags winning three times and making the frame on five other occasions in 2007 & 2008.

JOLY BEY (FR) (1997) - b g Beyssac - Rivolie (Mistigri) (2005) - A winner at Auteuil for Guillaume Macaire he later won three times for Paul Nicholls before being sold for the ridiculously high sum of 240,000 guineas at the May Doncaster sales in 2003. He was to be a present for the rather posh (but talented) amateur rider David Dunsdon who rode him in most of his races thereafter. Clearly considered to possess considerable talent he started favourite for the 2004 Topham, and was looking all over the winner when he fell four from home. The National was the target for 2005. He won at Sandown in February disaster struck in their prep race, the William Hill Handicap Chase at the Festival. Hampered at the twelfth fence, the saddle slipped and he had to be pulled up a few fences later. He ran well for a while in the National but ran wide at the second Canal Turn and weakened to finish fifteenth, clearly not staying the trip. He was entered again in 2006 but having suffered breathing problems during his second race at Wincanton he underwent an operation. Unfortunately it was clearly not a success as he was not able to run again.

L`AVENTURE (FR) (1999) b m  Cyborg - Amphitrite (Lazer) (2005) - Won 4 hurdles and 5 chases between 2003 & 2010. Ran in one National and was never going well finishing only fifteenth and never returned to Aintree. HOWEVER she was still something of a "National" specialist. Ran in three Scottish Nationals (2006, 2007 & 2009), ran in four consecutive Welsh Nationals (2004-07) winning by a distance in 2005 and five Midlands Nationals between 2005 & 2010 (only missed 2009) finishing second (to Synchronised in 2010 in what was her last racecourse appearance), third and fourth twice. Amazingly she completed the course every time. She also won the Scottish Borders National at Kelso in 2009.  A phenomenal mare. Later produced two foals to Kayf Tara.

LE COUDRAY (FR) (1994) b g  Phantom Breeze - Mos Lie (Tip Moss) - Won 8 hurdles and 3 chases between 1997 & 2005. Very good chaser and an even better hurdler. In France won their top four year old hurdle, the Prix Renaud Vivier at Auteuil. Slammed Irish wonder-horse Limestone Lad at Naas on his Irish debut in January 1999 and beat him again at Navan later that year and finished second in the 1999 Stayers Hurdle. Off the course for just under three years he fell on his debut over fences but then won his next three races including Grade 1 novice events at Fairyhouse and Leopardstown. Very highly tried in 2003-04 and although he didn`t win he finished second behind Best Mate in the Ericsson Chase and was second to Florida Pearl in the Irish Hennessy. Not entered in the Cheltenham Gold Cup he ran instead in the National and was going well until he fell at second Bechers. Not so good thereafter and was pulled up in both Irish Grand National and a second National (tailed off at half way). Last seen out winning a handicap hurdle at Leopardstowns Christmas festival in 2005.

LORD ATTERBURY (1996) ch g Mister Lord - Tammyiris (Arapahos) - Won 3 chases between 2003 & 2006. Showed little in Irish point-to-points but was transformed when sent to David Pipes "feeder" yard. The younger Pipe cut his teeth training point-to-pointers and this was the one who put him on the map. He started in 2003 winning two points and maiden hunter chase at Leicester by twenty eight lengths. He then announced himself to he world when he lined up in the Aintree evening meeting in May and won again by a distance. Looking the most exciting hunter prospect for years he was snapped up by Martin Pipes leading owner David Johnson. The following year his preparation was beset with problems but David Pipe did manage to get him to win another point. Transferred to Martin Pipes yard he started favourite for the Christies Foxhunters Chase but raced lifelessly and was pulled up. After such a dire performance it was surprising to see him take his chance in the National especially as he had only run four times under rules. However, Pipe was a wily old fox and clearly knew something we didn`t because to put it bluntly he was a revelation. Always with the leaders he was one of three horses who drew clear after second Bechers and he was still with a fighting chance at the last but he couldn`t quite last home and eventually finished an exhausted third beaten five lengths. He required oxygen after the race and was not asked to enter the winners enclosure. I think it is fair to say that the run took a lot out if him and he was not the same horse afterwards. He did put up a much better performance in the 2005 Christies Foxhunters finishing fourth but was a surprise first fence faller when he returned to Aintree for the 2005 National. He narrowly missed the cut and ended up as first reserve in 2006. He ran in that years Scottish National instead but was pulled up. That was his last race under rules although he did continue to run in point-to-points but failed to reproduce the dazzling form he had shown in his younger days. He failed to win in 9 starts between 2007 & 2009.

MERCHANTS FRIEND (IRE) (1995) b g Lord Americo - Buck maid (Buckskin) - Won 2 hurdles and 6 chases between 1999 & 2009. Won twice in Ireland before being sold to run for Charlie Mann and unusually made his debut for new connections in a hurdle event in the Czech Republic in October 2002. In desperately heavy going he slammed the best the Czechs had to offer by a distance. Thereafter won his first two starts over fences in the UK. Finished fifth in the 2003 Hennessy and second in the 2004 Kim Muir. Fell at the tenth in the 2005 National and was one of the two riderless horses who carried out Clan Royal at second Bechers. Thereafter finished unplaced in the Betfred Gold Cup at Sandown. Didn`t achieve a great deal thereafter and was last seen in a Cheltenham Hunter Chase in 2009.

MONTY`S PASS (IRE) (1993) b g Montelimar - Friars Pass (Monksfield) - Won 8 chases between 1999 & 2005. Raced in points and hunter chases early in his career and first came to prominence when he was a fast finishing fifth in the 2002 Mildmay of Flete Challenge Cup. In his next race he showed a liking for the unique Aintree fences chasing home the ill-fated Its Time for A Win in the Topham.  In the autumn of 2002 he gained his first major win when he landed the valuable Guiness Kerry National over three miles at Listowel. A couple of spins over hurdles followed before he lined up in 2003. Always with the leaders, he jumped superbly, took the lead two out and was driven out to win by an easy twelve lengths. In doing so he netted his owners a cool million pounds. He was syndicate owned and the syndicate leader Mike Futter was a little publicity shy and a reluctant interviewee so the celebrations afterwards seemed a little muted when compared to previous Irish winners. The rest of his career is described above. 

NATIVE EMPEROR (1996) br g  Be My Native - Finians Blue (Crash Course) - Won 6 hurdles and 2 chases between 2000 & 2006. Won on his debut over hurdles at Stratford in October 2000 and also won at Ascot during his novice campaign. Developed into a smart handicap hurdler the following season winning three times and finishing fourth in the Pertemps Final at the Festival. Placed in both the Newburys Long Distance Hurdle and Ascots Long Walk Hurdle in the autumn of 2002 but he was completely outclassed in the Stayers Hurdle and was pulled up. As a novice chaser he landed the National Hunt Chase at the 2004 Festival but that was the last race he ever won. He then pulled up in the Scottish Grand National.  In 2004-05 he finished a very distant eighth behind Slver Birch in the Becher Chase, pulled up in the National Hunt Handicap Chase and just sneaked in as first reserve at 100-1 in the National itself when he fell at Valentines first time (he was in last place at the time). The following season he pulled up in the Welsh National and after finishing unplaced in a hurdle at Cheltenham on New Years day his career under rules was over although he later ran in point to points in 2007 & 2008.

POLAR RED (1997) ch g Polar Falcon - Sharp Top (Sharpo) - Won 2 hurdles and 4 chases between 2001 & 2006. Smart performer on the flat winning five times. Won 2002 Imperial Cup at Sandown on what was only his fifth start over hurdles. As a result of that victory he was fancied to gain his connections a £60,000 bonus by winning the County Hurdle at the Festival the following week. He didn't and finished unplaced. After Cheltenham his next run was when he finished unplaced in the William Hill November Handicap back on the level. Showed little in handicap hurdles the following season but won his first two starts over fences (both at Chepstow). From 2004-05 season was campaigned both over hurdles and fences and considering he had never run over two and a half miles he was a surprising entry in 2005 but belied his odds and was with the leaders two fences from home before weakening to finish tenth. The following season he finished seventh in the Topham and was unplaced in the Scottish National on his final start over rules. He later ran three times in Irish point to points without making the frame.

SHAMAWAN (IRE) (1995) b g Kris - Shamawana (Darshaan) - Won 3 chases between 1999 & 2005. Won a maiden at Newbury on the flat. On the whole lightly raced and didn`t hit the headlines in a career with a highlight being victory in small race at Ascot in November 2002. Never got into the 2005 National and finished last of the twenty one finishers. Last raced at Chepstow in December 2005.

SIMPLY GIFTED (1995) b g Simply Great - Souveniers (Relko) - Won 3 hurdles and 4 chases between 1998 & 2006. A winner on the flat he won on his debut over hurdles at Wetherby and finished seventh in the 1999 Triumph. Missed the following season but showed he was a reasonable novice chaser finishing third in the mud in the 2001 Maghull Novices Chase on Grand National day. Unconsidered at 66-1 in the National (he had finished third in the Mildmay of Flete at the Festival) but belied those odds to finish fourteen lengths behind runaway winner Hedgehunter in third place. He only raced three more times last seeing a racecourse at Hereford in December 2006.

SPOT THEDIFFERENCE (IRE) (1993) b g Lafontaine - Spooted Choice (Callernish) - Won 14 chases between 1998 & 2007. Unraced over hurdles and started his career in point to points and hunter chases. Won three chases back to back in the summer of 2001. He was a regular at Aintree first running in the 2000 Foxhunters where he finished eighth. He ran in another Foxhunters in 2003 where he unseated at Valentines and competed in three Nationals without ever troubling the leaders. However it is not as an Aintree horse that his one will be remembered but as the undisputed king of the Cheltenham Cross Country course. Cheltenham stages three cross country events a year, one each at the Open and December meetings and from 2005 one at the Festival. Between November 2004 and November 2007 he ran in every race. His record was incredible 1111021141. He won the November race four consecutive years and was retired after an emotional seventh victory on the course. Worryingly he slipped and fell after he passed the post. Fortunately he had done no lasting damage but was retired immediately. A truly wonderful horse. Oh.... and he also won the four mile La Touche Cup over the Punchestown banks twice in 2004 and 2007.

STRONG RESOLVE (1996) gr g Roselier - Formerette (Teoface) - Won a hurdle and 7 chases between 2001 & 2008. Mediocre hurdler who finally won over timber at the nineteenth attempt when he picked up a small race at Ayr. Better chaser winning four more times at Ayr. Had each way claims for the 2005 National but finished seventeenth after making a monumental mess of the water. Fell early in the 2005 Becher Chase and was a distant seventh in the Welsh National. Occupied the same position in the 2007 Scottish National. Last seen out in the Ayr marathon the following year.