Has the magic of the National gone for good?

Best horse won.

pocket talk
its a horse race for goodness sake
do you need fireworks

2012 and 2011 all we had on the Saturday night was ban the race so some changes had to be made. The race was exciting and has a story with trainer doing it as a hobby and jockey retiring a few years ago.

nothing wrong with the race.

perhaps it was c4,cunningham and mcgrath etc spoiled your viewing.

Plenty of excitement in the race itself, a decent story (small trainer / formerly-retired jockey wins again / horse won the race with only three shoes) and all runners home safe and sound to take some more heat out of the scrutiny the race finds itself under.

In an ideal world C4 would carry out an honest review of their racing coverage, ideally with plenty of audience consultation, to see what works and what doesn't but they're never going to get the audience share the BBC did, because of viewing habits and the way the respective channels are considered.

watching national velvet too much

These sporting spectacles are transient though,Jez,BBC are gone...

nothing wrong with todays race,
people live in the past too much.
All the horses came back in one piece,
thats the main thing.

bookies were full to bursting on national day 25 years back,now there is hardly a difference between any other Saturday,moving it off the bbc also demeans the race,it no longer has the feel of a great occasion

i enjoyed todays race

good race imo all horses and jocks safe and plenty of incident ,i was on the package ew ran well and had a bit of hope for a long way
once again the winner had 4 mile form and ran a stormer at chelts ,was hardly unbackable imvho

Perhaps you're just Grump_p!

Agree with the Bcc bit pandora ,25 years back there was no internet and so many offers I think even the occasional punter will be betting online ,,,

I thought it was nice to see a jockey not standing in his irons saluting the crowd.
He is doing his job and leaving the praise for trainer and horse.
Never saw Fallon Jumping around, throwing his whip about. True pro.

fallon ...

did he not retire a few years back ?

Too many Brandys imo.

WALOFS

With a 40 horse field over 4m+ there is still more than enough excitement and incident. Or do we need to have more fatalities?

The best race is where the best horse wins.

Always understated in his many grade 1 and classic victories.

Seems some just want carnage and less than 10 finishers to keep them happy.

True CC.Thought it was a great race tbh.

it was more enjoyable than last years which was so dull that I had little interest today.I had to force myself
to have a bet! in the end it was quite entertaining but the magic has gone.
i'll watch it and have a bet but I don't think I will ever look forward to a national again

I must say even without backing the winner I did enjoy the race. There was plenty over early drama but when Teaforthree tipped up that was my financial interest pretty much gone. C'est la vie. All the horses came home safe, no pilots badly hurt, can't say fairer than that.

Enjoyed the race today - plenty of incident - there is still no other race like it and, in these overhyped times, it was good to see an understated response from a thorough pro ...

I did NOT back the winner ....

I should add - my one negative ...

I know Crabbies put the cash up but the advertising was beyond the pale - I have never seen anything like it - stands were bedecked - every fence was bedecked - after the race I looked in the mirror and someone had stuck a Crabbies sticker on my forehead!!!!!

Without doubt - the magic has gone forever - pretty dross event nowadays - the only thing 'grand' about it is the name.

after one circuit its a hurdle race I like watching the old nationals about 30 years ago I know the results

WALOFS

Exciting race, with at least half a dozen in with a chance crossing the Melling Road.

Won by a small trainer with his first runner in the race - the horse having its tenth run of the season, rather than having a quick spin in a handicap hurdle then left in its box until after the weights are released.

All horses and jockeys back safe and sound.

What more do you want?

still nearly a hurdle race

if a few horses had died today I reckon it'd be a bumper by next year

In 1991,92,93,94 there was not one fatality when the fences were much stiffer and Bechers was err Bechers and the Chair was err the Chair, since they modified the fences the fatalities has been as bad if not worse on average, as they're going much too fast into them since modifications.

Its a boring race these days the big fields and an over excitable commentary disguises that fact.

As we come to the one before Bechers" use to have an air of trepidation about it but now its just another fence that nobody gives two tosses about anymore.

The once formidable Chair is probably the softest fence in the whole course.

All the names that once represented a once great race should be removed and give the fences numbers instead, because how can anyone call Bechers Brook Bechers Brook anymore?, it doesn't resemble the original one iota.

A sad demise of a once great institution because of the bleeding hearts brigade.

^Well said.

The thick left wingers don't get,probably never had a decent shag either.

Agree with the OP to be honest, well apart from the comments about Leighton Aspell whose always made Ryan Moore seem positively bubbly in comparison.

i think a lot of people are being just a bit harsh here . i remember going to aintree in the 80 's and throwing money in a 'save the national' bucket . it was a desperate place . try going in oct/nov now  and see what a great job of the stands they have done . better than cheltenham ...yes, the fences are much diluted but as we saw today plenty got them wrong without the need for green screens everywhere . the rspca lobbyists dream was to shut this race and place down . they have failed. rejoice in that we still have the race . it's not crabbies fault that mr aspell is a bit dour ! mine got stuffed by the way ....

Look at the size of the fences here ...

and - as windsor knot has posted - what dump the place was.

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

Too much emphasis on the national itself, the National meeting as a whole has been transformed to a very decent three day festival,not something you could say 20 years ago, as for the race itself, plenty of incident imo & whatever they have done to the race the last five furlongs is basically the same as it was years ago, lots of horses in with a chance after jumping the 28th fence, winner won going away, if it had been neck & neck to the line people would be saying what a great race it was.

^A considered,respected opinion.

Great post pumphol.

And spot on about the three days as a whole - the Thursday is an excellent day's racing (and arguably the best value for money all year)

Its a balancing act, nobody wants to see a horse or jockey injured in any way, but this has to be balanced with keeping it as the ultimate test for both horse and jockey. Its still a great event, but the removal of the iconic slope on the landing side of Bechers, and the general weakening of the toughness of the obstacles has made it nowhere near the test it once was. Thankfully there was enough incident yesterday to keep it as a great spectacle, but I still have a little sadness at the loss of the daunting factor.

We're always more nostalgic about the past, I can remember every FA Cup winner through the 70's but now can't remember last year's. As others have said the big achievement is what Aintree is now compared to the desperate days of the late 70s. I went to the Friday of GN meeting in early 2000's and it went from crowds of 25,000 to 50,000 in a few years - too much for me but I'm glad it has been successful. Don't bet in the National but watch and always enjoy the race, yes it would be better as a spectacle if the fences were stiffer (the old Beechers was heart in mouth even as a viewer) but if the changes are what is required to everyone happy then so be it.

Brilliant post by silvergreaser slightly echoed by Pounf's. In the past there used to be a palpable sense of anticipation as horses approached Becher's knowing the test that they were about to face. Looking at the fence now it looks smaller than ever and as a contributor to the Post today put it resembles the Foinavon fence (smallest on the course) with no drop or Brook. The do-gooders have done their damage and moved on now - astonishing how many of these creatures are on this thread. The race is over and can only go downhill until it disappears forever. If I was the sponsor I wouldn't sully my products name by being associated with such a non-event.

My views for what it's worth...as a father with missus and kids into horses it was a great day.  We had the coverage on from 1300 and we all had a bet on every race.

The girls sat and watched whole race, really enthralled by it...they were on double seven each way who was up with the pace in recognisable colours.  All in all a highly enjoyable family day. I suppose this is the reason for the sanitisation of the national, to ensure the next generation of race fans are developed, through their memories of such days.  I found yesterday's race contained some decent enough high jinx and spills, without any serious injury to horse a jockey so we must be grateful of that.

Of course, it's not like the good old days, but nothing is...as the Pies says above everything was tougher back then.  But the kids are brought up differently to the way we were and it is important the sport and the industry moves with these times to allow it to survive and indeed flourish.

The grand national is one of the sports opportunities to dominate the public consciousness.  And it is right that they put in the measures to make sure the post race discussion is positive.  However we can never underestimate the ineptitude of the establishment and even though there were no fatalities they still can't get a ****g stewards enquiry set up right.

For those saying it's now a boring race, then how do you manage to watch racing through the rest of the year?

There were no deaths in those years 91,92,94 (we cant really count 93 as it was a no race) due to soft going and changes that were made to Beechers after the 89 running.

Very good post off the toe.

Steamship - what a ridiculous post - they can muck about with the 2.40 from Wolverhampton on a wet Monday afternoon as much as they want. This is the Grand National we're talking about - as iconic a race as there is.

I really enjoy looking back on old nationals, there have been many great races in the past but you have to accept those days are gone, no point in harping on about how much its been messed about with, just enjoy it for what it now is, its still a great spectacle & maybe not the one it once was but still an event you can look forward to & enjoy on an annual basis.

The world has moved on, we don't have jim davidson's stand up routines to endure, paedophilia is being tackled, priests are being put in jail. This isn't the 70's any more we don't need the barbaric spectacle now.

1998 and 2001 races were very exciting.
Hardly any finishers if I'm right.

I was not looking forward to the race for the first time in my life . Most years i get butterflies in the stomach as race time approaches , it is simply the greatest sporting spectacle imo.
However I thoroughly enjoyed the race . The fences still caused lots of problems , most of the major players had to survive some error or other ......perhaps Swing Bill should coach them how to do it  , he makes it look easy.
One of the biggest differences now is the sheer number of horses in contention 4 fences out, which keeps lots of punters interested. But as we know that final mile switches most of them to an empty fuel gauge.

I just hope they dont pander to the animal rights people any further , especiall in shrinking the field size.
Time for them to leave this high profile part of our culture alone and get on with the thousands of cruelty cases elsewhere.

I just hope they dont pander to the animal rights people any further

I think that's the worry. It's no where near like it was  anticipation wise for me but it was still an exciting race. However the appeasement will continue. There will be fatalities at some point whether it be next year or the one after because thats racing and with the fences now as soft as they could possibly be it's going to be interesting whether they say enough is enough or pander to further pressure. Unfortunately it will likely be the latter.

There seems to be a mis-placed concept that animal rights groups are solely responsible for the changes when in fact no changes would have been made had popular opinion not been in favour of doing so. After all animal rights groups are in favour of vegetarianism but I don't see them banning meat being sold in supermarkets any time soon.

I would say that the National is now an easier test than the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham. It is more akin to the Festival Cross-Country race.

think some of the jockeys believed some of the posts on here and disrespected the fences,[waley cohen on thurs said you can flick through the top and the clever horses no it ],
long run,teaforthree,big shu, burton port not so clever then,some hard falls yesterday horses thumping the fences barely half way up

billobaggins- You fail to see the bigger picture, you ttalk of the anticipation of them approaching Beechers, did you feel like that in 2011 when going round the second time they had to avoid the fence because of an injured horse? 

You probably still find it acceptable to drink and drive

still a great race and even better for fewer injuries and fatalities but much more difficult to narrow the field down and find the winner

Sport involves risk,People or Animals.

Steamship,I walked the course years ago,when it was a true test.What we have now is a shadow of the "real National".To bring up one case is neither here nor there.Obviously much of the excitement disappeared with the altering of the fences.The people that count,owners,trainers,jockeys weren't complaining for years.If you didn't have the "right type" for Aintree,you didn't enter,or didn't qualify.
I have no time for the so called do-gooders that wanted the fences altered.

Obviously much of the excitement disappeared with the altering of the fences.

Why? What exactly is it that was so "exciting" about the old fences that isn't there now?

The magic will never go away. It's all part of our heritage.

Well said Lizzy!

I thought it was a great race. Lots of incident, thrills and spills, massive crowd. As for the bookies not being full that's because most people bet online these days and not an indication that the race is any less popular. The opposite is true. And it is the race which brings horse racing to the forefront of sport. If it wasn't for watching the GN on TV as a kid in the 1970's I doubt I'd have developed an interest in all horse racing many years later.

Come to think of it, Red Rum ruined my life!

Bechers brook was the national, nows its a **** fence.

my views of the race changed 15years ago.... when i bought two horses both flat types ...they were good to me lots of fun a few good wins and an introduction to another world ...even the sight of one of them breaking a blood vessel made me uneasy and concerned ..ok they have the best of attention but why wd y risk injury to some things y get very close to ....i wdnt watch the race for a long time ... this was madified to watching the race but not the jumping at fences ..i did watch it this year but only after i had seen the massive changes in height and construction to the fences,,, the race was cruel ... it probebly still is but less so ... ohh i backed the second ... my first bet in race for years ... my old horses are still alive at twenty plus ... take part in show jumping and small eventing ... how a 5f sprinter took to this ive no ideaesp as it tripped ist time it was faced with a pole on the ground .... the girls who have them love them to bits as did i /

cheltenham has lost its gloss since made 4 days
york is the same in august
the fa cup is pish
the premier league is filled with players who most people have never heard of
no sport is as good as it was when it was sport and not a money making machine for tv

Yes.  Not at all the race it was.  Anything/body can win it now, and frequently does.

forcing a horse to jump some of those old high fences was cruel. end of discussion.

Make it much safer and more horse-friendly then brain dead and run it over hurdles instead!  It is astonishing how quickly people swallow the propaganda and become brain-washed!