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National Fences getting even easier and losing that special appeal
National Fences getting even easier and losing that special appeal
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Replies: 155
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The (Not So) Grand National is now a Zombie race
It looks alive but its really quite dead. |
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Forumites whingeing and whining about
NOT ENOUGH DEATH at Aintree |
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The chaos of it was what made it, though seeing the screens up is horrible.
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I bet in the 1950s old men in pubs were decrying the era of Neville Crump and Vincent O Brien, the National has gone soft they cried out as they sup their pale ales in a dimpled glass
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100% correct, Cardinal.
The once a year punters who tune in and have their £5 e/w will not know that there is any difference to the fences. Unfortunately the sport is not as popular as it once was. Nothing to do with the changes that have been made. |
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the 'special' aspect of Aintree's National fences was the fear factor...
when you lose that it's just another chase race imv... been coming for years but it's definitely lost it's fear factor NOW imv... and it's become just another handicap chase with big prize money... shameful the authorities responsible have allowed this to happen if you ask me. |
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The Nanny Society wins again...
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"The most famous tale about Neville Crump concerns the time he was asked directions from his base at Middleham, North Yorkshire, to nearby Leyburn by a group of Japanese tourists. There is no polite way of recounting Crump's reply to such a simple request. Legend has it he told them: "You found your fu*ki*g way to Pearl Harbour. You can find your own fu*ki*g way to Leyburn."
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Would imagine the once year punters will come back if their horse
is still there pitching 3 out than on the deck after 2 fences. |
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down royal got the memo
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Uttoxeter got the memo then...
embarrassing imv. |
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Good to see you can still take the fences halfway up at Ludlow, could probably jump around on a pogo stick
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1 commentator
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not much point to these races now
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possibly another fatality
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Still have to be jumped and big fields always mike life harder for jockeys. Sheehan was outstanding on the winner. Went round the inner for 2 miles and was making mistakes but then pulled out wide and just stuck his head out in the end. You won't see many more exciting chases than that.
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Still have to be jumped and big fields always mike life harder for jockeys. Sheehan was outstanding on the winner. Went round the inner for 2 miles and was making mistakes but then pulled out wide and just stuck his head out in the end. You won't see many more exciting chases than that.
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Sorry, very slow web site today.
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You won't see many more exciting chases than that.
left me cold |
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Watch a different sport then. And then we see Rubaud teasing the in running players as he always does. Smashing horses even if not grade 1 class.
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sageform • November 8, 2025 3:00 PM GMT
Watch a different sport then why...because I disagree with you? |
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national course was special back in the day
now it isn't imo glad you enjoyed it |
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now that was a proper race...naas
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wonder, perhaps an over reaction to your comment but you seem to no longer enjoy racing. I watch racing because I enjoy it and have done for 70 years. A horse like Rubaud is an absolute pleasure to watch. Experienced watchers know that he will drift in price in running and cash in nearly every time.
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sageform • November 10, 2025 11:26 AM GMT
wonder, perhaps an over reaction to your comment but you seem to no longer enjoy racing speak for yourself not others |
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Surely that’s gambling sage associated with a race? I get wonders point though. Nothing to beat a trio of chasers going at it over the final three fences.
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I just don't like the stuffed hurdles being revered as "the big fences"
its a cross country course now but without much variety to the obstacles, its dull |
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but I did enjoy naas yesterday
competitive racing on a proper course & a thrilling finish to the feature  |
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But there were 6 of them almost level going to the last on Saturday! Surely better than 2 with jockeys on and 6 running loose as used to be the case? I used to enjoy the spectacle when there were 17 hand slow boats running but the modern chasers are much closer to flat horses and there was be carnage over the old fences which is why they made them easier. I do have a bet LH but I am very happy to watch good races without having a bet. I just love watching good jumpers and good jockeys going round (well not at Fakenham perhaps)
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sageform • November 10, 2025 1:44 PM GMT
But there were 6 of them almost level going to the last on Saturday! Surely better that's not my view if anything it looks weird on that course |
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that chicane isn't wide enough either to get a line of 6 through but when it was designed they never imagined it would be like the finish to the stewards cup on the run in
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We’re all in it together. It’s a great sport being frayed at the edges and whittled away at by the antis. Unfortunately.
Be lucky. |
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yes that's sadly correct loyal
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Definition of The Grand National? A four and a quarter mile hurdle race for horses trained by Willie Mullins. The sporting year 30 years ago was: 1. The Five Nations 2. The Grand National 3. Cheltenham. The first beaten by professionalism and laws changes (lifting at lineouts etc); the second destroyed by wokery and cowardice. I suspect Cheltenham is headed the same way as the GN.
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Sageform, without entering into the debate too much on either side, you are close to the mark when you comment on "flat horses". I am no paddock judge , but when I look at NH these days you would often take 2 of them added together to make 1 The Dikler. If you look at the breeding of some of them it makes sense. I saw a Dark Angel running in a hurdle a few weeks back! I tend towards Wonder's view and have lost a lot of interest in the National recently. I went to every one (bar bomb/false start) since Grittar but have stopped the last 2 years. Too expensive for not enough excitment. NH horses are bred differently these days with an emphasis (as on the flat) on (relative) speed. If they had fences as they did, there would be carnage and the whole game would be under even more pressure than it is. I lament but understand. Not the end of the world if the race is not what it was for us old-timers. Plenty of other great racing to watch.
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