All of those arguments are perfectly valid but we all know how those who say racing is cruel and should be banned will react to this (pretty much all their Christmases coming at once and its not even in the Grand National) – they shout the loudest and longest and Joe Public will be listening to their biased reporting and believe it to be true.
My worry is what will the BHA now do in their customary knee jerk reaction under the ‘public perception’ banner – I could very well see something like an edict coming down that if a horses makes a similar type of mistake (regardless of what point in the race it happens) that the jockey will immediately pull the horse up or face a massive suspension.