Welsh National History

The Welsh Grand National was first run in 1895 at the Ely track but due to the financial troubles around the time of the second World War Chepstow took over the race in 1948.

Over the years the Welsh National has seen some memorable performances notably by David Nicholson the famous trainer and jockey who rode the winner of the Welsh in three successive years in 1959, 1960 and 1961.

Over the years of the Welsh National there have been a few horses that have won this race on the way to winning the more famous Grand National at Aintree. Corbiere won this race and the Aintree Grand National and in recent years Silver Birch won the Welsh National in 2004 and then followed up by winning the Grand National in 2007. In the 1983 /84 season Burrough Hill Lad won the Welsh National and went onto win the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

One trainer who has achieved great success in this race was Martin Pipe winning the race in 1988 and 1989 with a horse called Bonanza Boy and Martin came back in 1991 to win it with Carvil's Hill. In recent years Paul Nicholls is looking to emulate Martin's successes in this race having won back t back Welsh Nationals in 2004 and 2005.