CAS – the changes made to the race, specifically the over softening of the fences (did you notice several of the fences had their actual cores exposed!!!) and the much compressed weight range now mean that this was always most likely to happen. They wanted to encourage the better type horse to run and it has worked but it has been very much to the detriment of the fairy tale type winners……which now struggle to even get into the race to begin with.
I was a little initially surprised that a 66-1 shot managed to nab 5th place but then I looked at who trained it and it was Mullins but interestingly enough his last two races he pulled up and he has only actually won one of his seven races over fences before the National….a beginners chase!