I certainly think there’s room to be creative, not least because no crowd means vastly fewer concerns over policing, hospitality, amenities etc
The idea that we should be concerned if it clashes with other races is not one I’d remotely agree with. Other races are virtually irrelevant (betting-wise) compared to The National – it’s the biggest betting race by a vast distance. It’s also the the race that gets the most future punters interested in the sport in the first place.
Mike