Grand National 2004 Race Guide

As the horses moved away from the start Alexander Banquet was in the lead with Hedgehunter his stable mate in second position, they all headed towards the Melling road again going a little too fast. As the horses sorted themselves out Akarus came to the front.

At the first fence Akarus jumped it first if not fluently followed by Alexander Banquet. Shardam makes a mistake but gets away with it. Three Horses are not so lucky Arctic Jack jumps the fence too big and crumples on landing, he is unable to find a leg and falls. Luzcadou falls back in the field and unluckly he brings down Kelami.

At the second fence Alcapone has taken the lead and all jump it well

The open ditch is next and at it Alcapone jumps it well with Hedgehunter next Bramblehill Duke is in touch with Gunner Welburn. Shardam puts in a short one and on landing launches Tom Scudamore out of the saddle giving him no chance to stay with the horse.

Fourth fence The leaders jump the fence well but Jurancon II jumps it big and falls on landing, Just behind him Amberleigh House swerves right and manages to avoid him and What's Up Boys who is even further behind gets hampered.

At the fifth fence Spot the difference make a mistake. But the rest of the field jump it well and it's on to Bechers.

At the most famous fence in the world, Alcapone jumps it first followed by Hedgehunter, next is Puntal and Gunner Welburn these jump the fence well but Bechers takes it's toll Akarus gets hampered by a loose horse and falls, Bounce Back Falls, Risk Accessor Falls, Montreal falls, Skycab Falls, What's up boys jumps the fence well but is hampered and brought down with nowhere to go, Bramble hill Duke try's to refuse and unseats his rider, Bindaree is very unlucky he is hampered going into the fence by Blowing Wind who refused, He has to jump across the fence this he does bravely but on landing he is hampered and unseats his rider but it is not his or his riders fault he just has nowhere to go. So we lose nine at the fence and the rest of the field go on to the next.

The seventh fence is the smallest on the course, Foinavon, at it Alcapone leads. Hedgehunter and Gunner Welburn both jump it well but Spot the Difference makes a mistake and so does Mantles Prince.

The next is the Canal turn and the horses are led out to the outside of the fence to jump it at an angle the leaders jump it well but in third place Alexandra Banquet jumps it big and stumbles on landing this almost leads to him unseating but his jockey holds on and it's onto the next.

Valentines Brook is the ninth fence and at it Exit to wave is pulled up. The others in the field jump it well and go on to the next.

The 10th fence is next and in the run up to it the field are starting to get spread out however all horses jump it well.

At the 11th Wonder Weasel is not fluent but all are safe and it's on to the next.

At the 12th Alcapone makes a mistake when in front. But the field streams over it

Over the Anchor Bridge end of the Melling Road and back onto the course proper. The Leader is Hedgehunter, from Puntal and Alcapone, next is Lord Atterbury then Gunner Welburn followed by Alexandra Banquet. Next in the field is Monty's Pass. He is followed by Bear on Board and Clan Royal who is making up good ground.

The Next is the 13th fence. All horses jump it well and onto the 2nd in the home run.

At the 14th Hedgehunter increases his lead over Puntal and next is a close Lord Atterbury Next is Alcapone followed by Gunner Welburn

All horses jump it well and it's on to the biggest fence in the field The Chair. at_the_chair Hedgehunter jumps it first three length ahead of the field, next is Puntal then Lord Atterbury, next is Alcapone, they all jump it well, Takagi try's a big leap and lands unbalanced and unseats his jockey. Monty's Pass in next and he is going well.

The next fence is the Water and Hedgehunter leads the field over the long low fence.No Fallers at this one and the field runs past the winning post and around the bend to the start and they have completed one lap and now have to do it all again.

As they go on to the first for the second time Hedgehunter is in the lead by two length's, then is Puntal, then Lord Atterbury and then Alcapone, next is Clan Royal who keeps on improving. Gunner Welburn is next followed by Monty's Pass and Alexandra banquet who gets a few reminders. Bear on Board is next then Smarty who is staying on and Amberleigh house who is still with the field. Le Coudray and Wonder Weasel are next. Then comes Royal Atalza and Just in Debt, Ardent Scout David's Lad, Kingsmark, southern Star, Bunny Boiler, Spot the difference and Joss Naylor is last. Mantles Prince is pulled up. With 22 still in the field they go on to what was the first and is now the 17th.

At the 17th Hedgehunter leads the field of horses over the fence, Clan royal continues to make ground.

Before they reach the 18th Southern Star is being pulled up. At the fence the leaders Hedgehunter, Puntal and Lord Atterbury are still in the lead and jump it well however Alexandra banquet makes a bad mistake and falls.

On to the 19th and Joss Naylor is pulled up at the back of the field. Puntal blunders and unseats his rider and leaves Clan Royal in fourth position. The rest of the field is now being spread out again but all jump it well. And 17 go one to the next.

Before the 20th fence Gunner Welburn is pulled up and Spot the Difference makes a, mistake, Alcapone also makes a mistake. Amberleigh House makes up ground. 16 go on to the next.

The field is getting spread even more now, Hedgehunter is in the lead and next is the improving Clan Royal and Lord Atterbury follows him. At the 21st all jump the fence.

The 22nd is Bechers and Hedgehunter by a length to Clan Royal, A half a length behind them is Lord Atterbury, Next over the fence is Bear on Board who is five lengths behind. A half a length behind is Monty's Pass. Next is Amberleigh House who is still making up ground. Next at the fence is LeCoudray who makes a bad mistake and falls.

15 left and it's on to Valentines the 23rd. The three leaders are 6 lengths ahead of the rest of the field. They jump it well and next is Bear on Board who is untidy at the fence. Next is Monty's Pass and Amberleigh House. Just in debt makes a bad mistake and unseats his rider this leaves 14 for the next.

The 24th fence is the Canal Turn No change up front and the next three are 10 lengths behind the first three and are 8 lengths ahead of the rest of the field. All horses left in the field jump it well. Alcapone gets pulled up and 13 continue on to the next.

At the 25th the furious pace does not seem to be fading at all and at the next fence the first three jump it well, the next three also do well. A long way back are the other 7 but they are still going and still have some chance of glory but from this position is will be very hard.

At the 26th fence Hedgehunter jumps the fence well but Clan Royal makes a mistake and pecks but he gets away with it but his jockey looses his whip. Lord Atterbury jumps the fence and these three lead the field in the world's greatest steeplechase.

On the run to the 27th Wonder Weasel gets pulled up. At the fence Hedgehunter and Clan Royal jump it well but Lord Atterbury brushes through the fence and loses some ground.

At the next the leaders jump it well. Hedge Hunter is a length ahead of Clan Royal and he is a length ahead of Lord Atterbury. The Next three who are now spreading out are lead by Amberleigh House two lengths, behind him and now feeling his big weight and the furious pace is the brave Monty's Pass. Next is another tired horse Bear on Board. He is 10 lengths from the rest of the field. Royal Atalza is pulled up and there are now only 12 left in the 2004 Grand National.

The field now cross the Melling road again and turn on to the final bend. Amberleigh house is making relentless progress and is leaving Monty's pass 15 lengths behind but as he is 10 lengths behind the leader has he left it too late. The winner now must come from this first four.

Hedgehunter now is starting to show signs of tiring and Clan Royal seems to be going the best of the first three and Lord Atterbury is moving into a close second.

At the 2nd Last Clan Royal is in a one length lead and jumps it well, he is followed by Lord Atterbury who also jumps it well but both horses are starting to look tired at this relentless pace. Hedgehunter makes a tired jump out to the right one length behind. Amberleigh House is still making ground on the tired horses in front and jumps the fence two lengths behind. And now it's on to the last.

At the last Clan Royal jumps the fence in front but looks a tired horse, he has caught up and is in front but the fast pace of the race is now starting to tell he is running on memory. Lord Atterbury jumps the fence next he also looks very tired and this extended distance and furious pace is really telling now he is just running and holding on. Next at the fence is Hedgehunter who is less than a length behind but the trail blazing way this horse runs has just been too much, he has been disputing the lead for so long he has now given everything, the jockey just needs one more effort, the horse digs deep and jumps the fence but at the other side he is drained and is unable to find a leg, it's heart breaking but he falls the jockey rolls clear, the horse looks up but is unable to get up, he is so exhausted his head falls back down, he has given so much he does not even have enough breath left to get up. As the jockey rolls away Amberleigh House jumps the fence in front of him and he is closing. The rest of the field are 20 lengths behind.

On the run in there are only three in with a chance of glory now. Clan Royal is a length in the lead from Lord Atterbury and a further 5 lengths behind is Amberleigh House. As the horses go to the elbow Clan Royal is not turning out to the right, Lord Atterbury is turning to the right to get the correct route but he is now going very slowly. Amberleigh House is going well and has made up another length.

Liam Cooper on Clan Royal pulls the horse around to get him back on course but the horse is tired and over compensates he goes across the course and touches into Lord Atterbury. Both horses have now given all and can do no more than stay on. Amberleigh House is the only one still going on and has made up another length.

As they go past the elbow all jockeys are asking for more, Clan Royal still in front stays on as does Lord Atterbury but Amberleigh house is almost with them. Half way up the run in Amberleigh House gets the better of Lord Atterbury and then goes on to take the lead from Clan Royal he goes on by three lengths to win the 2004 Grand National.

Three Lengths behind is Clan Royal And a further Length behind is Lord Atterbury.

29 Lengths behind is Monty's Pass who finishes fourth. 1 length behind is Spot the Difference and 31/2 lengths behind him is Smarty.