“it’s almost reached the point now where I’d like to see a consolation race for horses rated over 110 who can’t get into the main field. My hope would be that this contained more of the old staying handicapper types who used to make the event so appealing”
Aintree missing a trick by not altering the conditions of The Becher and renaming it The Silver Grand National (Win & You’re In). Make it 3.5 miles, cap the mark at maybe 155 (Mr Vango was highest rated in 2025 running off 152: average and median OR was 137) and add 50k to take total prize money to £200k. I think you might well get as close to as you could to an ‘old fashioned’ Grand National every year, with no firm ground worries. The only year it has not been run since 1992 is 2024. The win and you’re in should ensure a good turnout. There have been just two single figure fields in the last 30 years.