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Could have. If ran in it before once or twice. And failed to Finnish,can’t enter again.
If ever fell twice over national fences,can’t run. If fell more than 3 times in a chase,can’t run. The list is endless,there’s enough entries,so weed some out. |
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The whole fun of the National is a big field handicap full of horses of wide varying ability all battling it out over an untested trip, with dodgy jumpers getting fantastic rides, on variable ground etc. Who wants another compressed handicap of fit proven sound jumping stayers, that could be just any other Saturday handicap. It's supposed to be a spectacle. 99% of non-racing people I watch with say 'Ooh, he fell will he be alright? then they move on and think nothing more of it. A tiny tiny minority ruining it all for the rest of us, that's big horse racing fans and the once a year punters alike.
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Indeed. Oxbridge uni entrants know the drill. Why not horses too? Apply the ethos "Cruel to be Kind", I say.
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I agreed. However, one (punter or once-a-year race enthusiast) does not want to witness or be told of regular fatality annually; cruelty in any sport ain't acceptable no more these days.
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impossible123, I don't disagree with that at all, we all hate seeing fatalities. But the fences are no longer what they were, the spectacle is the number of horses lining up, there's plenty of space for 40 runners, there were 66 in 1929, so we're now looking at half that number.
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BBC hypocrites of the first order,after milking the ratings for screening the National for years.
ahh yes, the good old beeb. didn't it used to be on just before Jim'll Fix It. |
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Sibton Abbey won the Hennessy from around 21LB out of the H'cap
when he beat Jodami. |
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BBC wont even show a hook in a fishes mouth on "Gone Fishing"
So the sight of a horse falling must be off the radar scale for them. Should be competing for their custom like the rest of TV Companies instead of taking public money. |
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For the entry, possibly they could do it like the Peagsus race they have in the US...
Owners buy an allotted number of entry slot at a very high premium and, to within reason, they can run whatever horse they want And other races are win and you're in. The Hennessey, Welsh/Irish/scottish National, King George, Eider, 4 mile NH, Foxhunters, Gold Cup, Sun Alliance, Leopardstown GC, Grand Prix de Paris, The Betfair, Charlie Hall, Whitbred, Thyestes .... |
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Participation ought not to be based on ability to pay, but solely on ability only eg criteria qualification; ability to pay exorbitant prices at sales must not come into the equation of participation for this race.
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Win and you're in races would be very interesting in this context.
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