Grand National 2002 Race Guide

At the first there were quite a few runners that were to be out of the race, Wicked Crack who was the first at it, FELL, Marlborough also FELL, Struggle's Glory FELL, Inn At The Top FELL, Carry on Harry FELL, Goguenard FELL, Paris Pike FELL, Frantic Tan was hampered but runs on, Red Ark blundered and UNSEATED RIDER, Logician was BROUGHT DOWN, Niki Dee was hampered and pecked, but stayed on his feet and ran on, Iris Bleu was also hampered but ran on, Smarty is also hampered here, so there was a lot of trouble as the horses carried on from the fence and then it was on to fence number 2.

The second fence is a little bigger than the first but the horses are a little more spread out now, Supreme Charm and the list fling lead at the fence and all the survivors of the first jump survive the second fence also.

Jumping the third and Supreme Charm is in the lead with The Last Fling second, just behind these are Blowing Wind, Celibate, Mely Moss and David's Lad. At the Back of the field You're Agoodun hit the fence and the rider is shot up the horses neck but both survive and it on to the next.

At the 4th The Last Fling takes up the lead from Supreme Charm, Streamstown makes a mistake at the fence but gets away with it, Niki Dee is not so lucky as he FALLS. Samuel Wilderspin also has his race ended as he also FALLS.

The next fence is the one before Bechers and is a 5 footer. The leaders have not changed and jump the fence well but Iris Bleu makes a mistake and FALLS. Frantic Tan also FALLS. The field is now just starting to sort themselves out and get into a rhythm, and the two leaders are starting to get a few lengths lead on the rest of the field, but the next fence is the most famous in the world.

The leaders are at the 6th fence, the mighty Bechers Brook, both the two leaders decide that the best place to jump the fence is in the middle and both riders face the fence with confidence which is good as both horses respond well and jump the fence well. The next horse at the fence is the riderless Struggles Glory who gives the fence a mighty leap. Celibate, and David's lad are the next at the fence followed very closely by Beau all jump it well. In the main bunch You're Agoodun jumps the fence a bit big and pecks on landing but runs away from the fence. Alexander Banquet makes a mistake and looks for a minute if he will get away with it but unfortunately he UNSEATS HIS RIDER.

The next fence is another with a reputation as it is named after the 1967 winner Foinavon, there was a pile up at the fence and he was the only one to jump it well and then went on to win the race. Will the leader at the fence win today? Well there are more horses that jump it well and the leader is The Last Fling second placed Supreme Charm jumps it well, but in the middle of the field Gun'n Roses II leaves his back legs in the fence and stumbles and then FALLS. What's Up Boys gets hampered at the fence but runs away from it well. Smarty who has been running well seems to have a problem with his reigns or his blinkers and his rider is trying to look after him.

The leaders run on to the next fence, which is the Canal Turn. Immediately after this fence the course turns through 90 degrees and as the leaders approach it the running rain lead them from the inside out towards the middle of the course and this allows the horse to jump the fence at an angle. (At The Canal Turn Image by BBC) Last year this is where a loose horse cased a lot of the runners to go out of the race and as The Last fling and Supreme Charm get to it there again is a loose horse between them it is Struggles Glory who seems to be enjoying himself. The two leaders jump the fence well and the riderless horse think of nothing but jumping the fence third to the fence is Celibate and next is Mely Moss and Beau is starting to improve his position and they all turn the corner and run on to the next. However Smarty's rider Tom Scudamore has no choice but to pull the horse up as the blinkers have now been displaced across the horse's face.

Valentines Brook is the next fence and the field is now starting to get strung out a little. The leader The Last Fling now starts to leave the rest of the field behind and jumps this fence 5 lengths ahead. All horses jump it well enough.

The 10th fence comes along soon after valentines and the field looks like this The Last Fling, followed by Supreme Charm who is 5 lengths behind, next and closing is Beau who is jumping really well. These are followed by Celibate, Mely Moss who is keeping in touch then David's Lad, Add hoc who is keeping in touch, Bindaree is next and making good headway and so is Blowing wind. at the fence, which is an open ditch, the leaders jump it well, the rest of the field clear the fence and it's on to the next.

At the 11th the leaders jump it well and only one horse at the back goes through the fence but all get away from it well.

The runners are now at the last in the back and all jump it well with the exception of Streamstown who makes a mistake. Into the straight first time round (Image by BBC) There is a long run now to the next fence and the horses take a pull as they go across the Melling road and the field looks to be going well. The Last Fling is still up front and the lead is now about 3 lengths, next is Supreme Charm, then Celibate who is close up. Next is Beau, followed by David's Lad, Mely Moss, Majed, Bindaree, and Streamstown. Ad Hoc, Blowing Wind, Spot thedifference, Inis Cara, Djeddah and Kingsmark. All horses are quite close up.

They turn the bend and go on to the first in the home turn on the first circuit, The last Fling is first at it but makes a mistake, but gets away from the fence okay, Beau who is now going better then ever and making up significant ground jumps the fence in second place. The rest of the field stream over the fence and ride on to the 14th fence.

The field again is now starting to get a little strung out and at the next The Last Fling is now only 1/2 length in front of the second placed Beau the first two jump the fence well enough but Beau stumbles on landing and just like last year he UNSEAT'S his RIDER. There is a big moan from the crowd as he was well backed. The rest of the field jump the fence well and as the horses get to the stand and start to move in to the stand side of the course the crowd starts to cheer.

The next fence is the first in front of the Grandstand and is the biggest fence on the course. The Mighty Chair fence is a 4 ft 6 inch fence with a 6-foot open ditch and the landing side of the fence is higher than the take off side, which is unusual. If horses see a stride here they jump it well but if not it is very unforgiving as we saw last year. Supreme Charm and Celebate at the Chair The Last Fling at the Chair The last fling is again 3 lengths in front following the departure of Beau and jumps it well, the rest of the field stream across but the improving Kingsmark makes a mistake as does Supreme Charm but all get away from it and run onto the next which is the Water Jump.

At the water the lead is increased by another couple of lengths and back in the field Bindaree is making great progress, as is Royal Predica. They all jump the water and then ride past the winning post; with one circuit completed they set off on another circuit. As they turn the bend The Last Fling is first followed by Supreme Charm, Celibate, Mely Moss, Bindaree, David's Lad, Royal Predica, Ad Hoc, Blowing Wind, Spot thedifference, then comes Inis Cara, Djeddah, What's Up Boys, Streamstown, Majed, Kingsmark, Birkdale, Super Franky, Ackzo, You're Agoodun, Lyreen Wonder, Manx Magic and the last is Murts Man, As they start to go out for the second circuit Murts Man is PULLED UP. The field cross the Melling road and go on to what was the first fence but now it is the 17th. The Last Fling is still in front, second place is Supreme Charm, David's Lad jumps into third next is Celibate.

All jump the fence and the 22 left in the field go to the next.

At the 18th fence The last fling is in the lead David's Lad who is now travelling very sweetly is in 2nd closely followed by Supreme Charm, back in the field Ackzo makes a mistake but gets away with it but Super Franky FALLS and leaves the field down to 21.

Onto the 19th the open ditch and the leaders stream over it but Streamstown makes a bad mistake and carries on. The rest of the field jump it fine, but some horses are starting to look a little tired. ACKZO is PULLED UP and the field is down to 20.

At the 20th fence The Last Fling's lead is getting smaller and smaller and he makes a mistake at the fence brushing through the fence. Manx Magic however has a heavy FALL and Lyreen Wonder is hampered and UNSEATS HIS RIDER.

The 18 left in the race run on to the 21st fence.

The last fling is now jumped upsides by Bindaree and David's Lad; the leading 10 are now starting to bunch up. What's up boys is starting to make headway, Kingsmark is also making ground, Blowing wind is going well but Supreme Charm is now starting to be driven along. All jump the fence and run on to Bechers with 18 still left in.

All the leaders again jump Bechers well, But Mely Moss makes a mistake but stays on his feet but Majed at the back of the field jumps it big and crumples on landing and FALLS and is out of the race. The 17 left in race towards the Foinavon for the second time.

On the run to Foinavon the leaders are going fine but the back of the field is now starting to spread out. Bindaree now takes to the front and jumps it first as The Last Fling is starting to get very tired and makes a mistake at the fence and starts to fall back in the field. Celibate also make a blunder at the fence Ad Hoc also makes a mistake, David's Lad also blunders. It is only a short run to the Canal Turn from here and the pace is hotting up as the 17 run on to it.

At the Canal Turn, Bindaree is in the lead and jumps it well so does the next horse David's Lad, The next is the improving Blowing Wind and then Supreme Charm. The Last Fling makes a bad mistake and FALLS. Mely Moss is hampered but still continues. Inis Cara is PULLED UP.

The horses turn the corner and the 15 run to the next.

As they run to the next the leaders look to be going very well with Bindaree in front and David's Lad and Blowing wind running on well. Kingsmark who is now going well makes a mistake and jumps it untidily. Ad Hoc makes a mistake, as does Djeddah. What's up Boys is making great progress. 15 left in the field and 5 more fences to jump.

On to the 26th fence and Bindaree is jumps it first but the fast improving What's up Boys jumps it a close second, David's Lad and Blowing Wind are cruising in third and fourth place both seem to be going very easily. Ad hoc is up there but Supreme Charm is now being ridden along but the horse is still trying. Spot thedifference is now given reminders to try and keep in touch and the horse is trying to respond, Royal Predica Makes a mistake but runs on. The field runs on to the last open ditch.

At the 27th What's Up Boys and Bindaree are upsides one and other and both jump the fence well. In third place David's Lad makes a mistake and FALLS Ad hoc is hampered and FALLS and Spot thedifference is hampered and also FALLS. Djeddah who is in the centre of the fence also UNSEATS HIS RIDER.

Bindaree up front gets away from the fence best of all and steals a 1-length lead. And the field of 11 run onto the third last.

On to the 28th fence and the two leaders jump it well but the toll of this race is starting to tell but all jump it safely.

The field is now starting to spread out as the leading two horses kick on with the rest of the field trying to stay with them, Kingsmark and Blowing Wind are up there but the rest are falling behind.

As they get to the Melling road Bindaree is again is two lengths in front of What's up Boys who is under pressure, they are followed by Kingsmark who's jockey suddenly looks behind as he thinks his horse is in trouble and has lost his action, The jockey gives him a few strides and decides that he is okay. Just alongside him is Blowing Wind, next is Royal Predica, Supreme Charm, then comes You're Agoodun who is followed by Celibate, then Mely Moss then there is a big gap to Birkdale and last is Streamstown. As they turn for home Bindaree is still out in front and going well with a loose horse up with him for company.

Approaching the second last What's up boys makes great improvement and at the fence both he and Bindaree jump the fence together they are 15 lengths in front of the third horse blowing wind and the close up 4th Kingsmark. The first four jump the fence well The rest of the field jump the fence with the exception of Mely Moss who crumples on landing and FALLS but his jockey Norman Williamson gets hold of the horse and remounts. As the two leaders get away from the fence Bindaree is on the rails and What's up Boys is on his outside the loose horse is wider still but as they run to the last the loose horse runs in front of What's up Boys and gets in between the two horses so on they run three abreast Bindaree the loose horse and What's up Boys.

At the last the loose horse again moves to his left this time he crosses the path of Bindaree and Bindaree's jockey switches him out around the horse three strides from the fence to get a view of the fence. All three of jump the last together and get away from it well, the leaders start to go right towards the elbow and the loose horse starts to go with them he must want to stay with his stable mate as the loose horse is Beau and is from the same stable as Bindaree, But Beau causes no trouble from here on in.

As the horses run to the elbow Richard Johnson is the first to reach for the whip as he gives What's up boys a slap, Jim Culloty, just waves the stick at Bindaree, but What's up Boys seems to be going the better and gets a two length advantage as they reach the elbow, the rest of the field are a long way behind.

Bindaree moves to the stand side as What's up Boys gets to the elbow but just past the elbow What's up Boys moves out from the far running rail and Jim turns Bindaree and gets him on the rail Bindaree now gets his head down and starts to run on. Jim gives him a slap with the whip and he picks up, What's up boys is still under pressure but is giving his absolute all in a brave effort to keep in front.

There's 80 yards to the finish line and both horses and jockeys are now flat out and giving their all. Bindaree is trying to make up ground and is doing so but only slowly What's up Boys is still running his heart out and trying to give Richard more. 30 Yards from the line Bindaree is now absolutely flying he is giving his jockey more and more and is upsides What's up Boys who is also trying to give his jockey more but the horse has run his heart out, although he is not giving up and has his head down he has given his all and under a weight that has not been carried to victory for 19 years he has no extra to give, he runs on well but the writing is on the wall for this very brave 8 year old grey.

10 yards from the line Bindaree is still giving his jockey a little bit more and is running and staying on well. He is just not going to let anyone take his glory and today is his day. Bindaree crosses the line the victor in a great race and his jockey punches the air as he adds to his Gold Cup win this year, a win in the worlds greatest steeplechase. What's up boys is a gallant 1 ¾ lengths 2nd.

Blowing Wind runs on to be a fine 27 length 3rd to fill the same position as last year.

Kingsmark runs on well to finish 9 lengths behind in 4th place.

17 lengths behind him Supreme Charm finishes.

3½ lengths behind him is Celibate.

3½ lengths behind him is You're Agoodun.

18 lengths next is his and Blowing Wind's stalemate Royal Predica.

28 Lengths behind is Streamstown

A further 13 lengths is Birkdale.

And 11th and last a distance behind is the remounted Mely Moss.