Grand National 'fences'

was just thinking the same thing, not try to take anything away from the winner or disparage the performances of the horses , but that is basically a four and half mile hurdle race.

A five foot high row of breeze blocks would be more appropriate.

big bucks need to come back and give it a go with sam thomas onboard.

Whole thing is a joke to appease the Daily Mail & RSPCA.  I doubt if two dead jockeys would have raised a murmur from the latter.

Not the same spectacle as it was at all.

22 fell

^ 8 fell

The others - either Unseated Rider, or Pulled Up.

s h y t e

Has the drop at Bechers gone ?

Might as well do 4 miles round the park course

apologies,read daily mail headline

http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/news/article-2597634/Thousands-racing-fans-flo...

A once 'great' and 'spectacular'  N.H. horserace - now  a total farce and complete joke.  The 'Grand?' National...........nothing grand about this anymore.

Here are your fences ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62fPLtL8h7s

The size of them.

I never understand this argument. Yes the composition of the fences has altered in the past few years but it remains a genuine test of a horses jumping ability - hence the number of runners coming to grief! Like it or not, times change and the sport had to do something to make the race safe whilst maintaining its aura as much as possible. I think they've done a great job - was fantastic to hear that they all came back safe today.

Agreed Glossy. Of course they're not what they were, but having been up close to them the other day, they are still formidable obstacles. As you say, they still catch plenty out. Long Run has made worse errors in the past which didn't bring him down than the one he did today.

There's a bit of the rose-tinted specs going on as well. The way some people go on, you'd think the sight of the birch getting kicked out of the fences never happened until two years ago. Yes, they're softer than they were but something had to change. I'd rather have it as it is and still have the National, than simply have it as something that exists only in the history books because of stubbornness.

Horses that aren't capable of jumping big obstacles shouldn't be there anyway - should they? or is that just me?

The trouble is dewey is that horses that can't jump big obstacles are now running in the race.

Even a horse that 'can' jump big obstacles (whatever that means) can fall - mistakes are made; especially in a large field like the National.

It is supposed to be the ultimate test of 'steeplechasing'

Why not make the fences 10 feet high then?

Seriously, if we're going to risk the future of the race on this hellbent pursuit of utter carnage, all in the name of 'tradition'; it will disappear altogether.

The world record is 8ft 1 and 1/4 inches which has now been held for 60 years ........apart from piussance whish a horse jumped 7' 10" but in each case that was one jump..........

You are living in dreamland mate.

It will be gone anyway. No horses died this year but at some point in the next year or two by chance one of the horses that fall will inevitably suffer a fatal injury like they do in in other races throughout the year and again the do gooders will be up in arms that further alterations need to be made to the course. The appeasement by Aintree will continue and deaths will happen even if it is nothing to do with the course.

*which

Couldn't believe the speed these horses were travelling at ...........'luckily'  they all got away with it -  today.....

This race will outlast my children,grandchildren,greatgrandchildren...etc

Maybe so Bus, but it will be run on  Friday night over 7f at Wolverhampton!

Crabbies

The "Book Your Easter Sunday Lunch At Wolverhampton Racecourse" Grand National Handicap.

They will do anything for a crowd!