Stamina-sapping marathon celebrated in book and film

1 The race was first run in 1895 and originally took place at Ely racecourse in Cardiff. It remained there until the closure of the track in 1939. After World War II it was transferred to Caerleon in 1948 and moved to its present venue in 1949 when Dick Francis, the jockey and later renowned author, won the first running at Chepstow on Fighting Line.

2 Coral first sponsored the race in 1973 and the bookmaker's association with the Chepstow marathon is now the longest-running in jump racing after Hennessy ended its backing of Newbury's most important contest.

3 Philip Hobbs saddled Dream Alliance to victory under Tom O'Brien in 2009. A modestly bred gelding, he was the subject of a critically acclaimed film, Dark Horse: The Incredible Story of Dream Alliance. Directed by Louise Osmond, it tells the story of how Janet Vokes and her husband Brian reared the youngster on a slag-heap allotment before he gave his 30-strong syndicate, each of whom contributed £10 a week towards training fees, the thrill of their lifetimes.