first GN I have missed since Grittar...

Good luck Donegal. Yes all a bit dull nowadays. Pity.

Only 32 runners makes the race nothing special and throw in the fact the fences are tiny these days.

It used to be a great spectacle

1982 Grittar, I listened to commentary on World Service Radio in Nairobi.

Yes tbh still get a twinge of excitement , had much to do with the racecourse in my working time including plenty of management meetings inside the course during the off season and still remember that walking past the Red Rum statue on empty days still had you remembering race replays as you walked past.

Remember once walking off the course with £23,000 in a black bin bag on bomb scare day , crazy scenes to be part of that day.

So tbh too many personal memories to not get a little twinge on National day , best sporting memory of all was getting as near as possible to the first fence to watch 40 horses taking off within seconds when fences were fences , exhilarating stuff to watch so must be awesome as a jockey.

Regards Donegal , hope your health is holding up and good luck to everyone today   

GN no longer has the same fun in participation, significance or status it once had eg the race was a lottery, and winning the lottery race was "kudos" or bragging points. It's now been taken over by commercialisation and incessant pundits working for the bookies paper and on tv.

It's also a glorified handicap race populated by deep-pocket owners and high profiled trainers.

I agree. Pretty boring these days. I used to have my fancies picked out weeks or months in advance. I didn’t even look at the card until last night. I’ve just picked three outsiders for the sake of having a bet in it.

thanks to kembo
could of written myself


I agree. Pretty boring these days. I used to have my fancies picked out weeks or months in advance. I didn’t even look at the card until last night. I’ve just picked 2 outsiders for the sake of having a bet in it.

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

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good decision on my part Hayden I think. Finished with the race after that. Plenty of other races to get excited about. So sad. Watched my first when Kilmore won , Dad having to bang the old tube black and white telly to get it going again when it played up about 5 mins before the off!! Just another chase now. There it is. We move on. Good luck, hope you backed the winner mate

Never bet the race these days DP , spend that much time putting bets on for the entire family that i've enough to cheer home.

Wife had winner so a nice tea beckons   

Used to be an ever present myself but stopped going a few years ago. All right for a boozing day and lots enjoy it.

The race has had to change to move with the times, regrettably for some of us, but we saw the best of it.

I just think of it as a top grade handicap now and enjoy it as that.

Still hard to find the winner and no luck today.

I know! Friend of mine hada bet on the winner. She has had 2 bets in her life. That, and Fifteen Love when it won the Brittania! Quite ironic that given the points I have made. She asked me what to back at Ascot that day and I said "shortie or big win?". The latter she said. She naffed off for about 30 minutes and came back with £2k in the tiniest purse you have ever seen. £50 win on the Toat!!"Buy a couple of magnums of Bollinger and can you put the rest in your (multiple) pockets" she sweetly said. Good job I'm honest!

Ignore the hype. I think the gloss from this race had been on the decline a few years ago. It's much easier to pick the winner for obvious reasons. And, I think even the once a year punters realised it.

Maybe 'ronnie' could update later with betslips.

I had tipped it to her and won myself I should say. I thought I was well in with £25 on!!

barstool totally agree"The race has had to change to move with the times,regrettably for some of us,but we saw the best of it".

1977 my fav race /conditions.Still think Andy Pandy would have won,if had got over Beachers.

For the millions around the world and in the UK who tune in once a year to watch the race, I doubt if they noticed the changes.

But true proper national hunt fans most certainly see the demise of a once great race.