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Would he have been campaigned the same if he was at Seven Barrows and had the opportunity?
He’d still be running over 2 miles
Agree with what you wrote, griff.
“I do question the feelings of the masses in between us the supporters and the other end of the spectrum, the antis.
It is “the masses” who are key. It is they who in effect allow racing to maintain its “social licence”. Racing must do everything to keep them on board. There is no point in even talking to the antis. They will never be appeased.
I did fear the Gold Dancer incident would be very badly received. However, despite some sections of the media doing their best to stir up anti-racing sentiment, the reaction from the public has not been as bad as I initially feared. I think most people recognise it was a tragic accident.
The “Daily Mail” ran stories yesterday about the fatal injury to Get On George and a jockey receiving a 10 day ban in the National. Of course, it didn’t give a damn about the death of Celtic Art at Chepstow. That wouldn’t have attracted enough clicks. And it will still be publishing its Grand National sweepstake kit next year.
I agree fully with that Griff. However certain sections of the media , including the BBC , do make the most of horse injury and like to sensationalise the headlines and add fuel to the fire. If politicians feel they can gain political capital from animal welfare they will jump on the bandwagon- look at what’s happening to greyhound racing in Scotland and Wales. Somehow I don’t think Mr Polanski will be a GN supporter for example.
But aside from all that – It was a fantastic race yesterday, defying doubters who said the course is too easy now . It has produced a winner who on the 50th anniversary (the symmetry of history is mind-blowing sometimes) of Rummy’s treble can aim to repeat the feat and become another true legend . Ed Chamberlin won’t be able to contain himself !“But aside from all that – It was a fantastic race yesterday, defying doubters who said the course is too easy now .”
That was the case until yesterday. Hopefully it wont be a one off and further changes aren’t made to make the fences any easier. As apracing says in the other thread, maybe the rain on watered ground was a factor in the number of fallers. I agree with Ruby Walsh that the loose horses added interest and tactics to the race.
It did seem the closest to an old school Grand National since the changes were made. Even the sight of Harry Skelton and another jockey standing by the rails on the second circuit, watching on as the horses raced by conjured up images from yesteryear.
It was nice to see riderless horses continue to run and jump independently yesterday, as I listened to Jeremy Vine on Friday and alongside Tom Scu there was a representative from PETA, who said that horses in the National were forced to run and jump. Mind, Tom even invited her round to a stable to see how the horses were looked after and loved but she declined; i suppose that wouldn’t fit their narrative.
Heard some of the interview … She wasnt the sharpest knife in the drawer …
Pick 3 on Saturday champion 2025/2026
Re riderless horses: GRANGECLARE WEST after he lost his rider at the first continued for a circuit and was about to continue then he spotted the way home – he turned round and cantered, ears pricked towards it!!
I’ll go and sit on the side that would prefer loose horses weren’t galloping around.
It’s acceptable to those of us that follow the sport, but to the ‘once a year’ or ‘casual’ spectator, it must look chaotic and amateurish, like something out of a Carry On film.
If we’re talking optics.
The only positive I take from it is that it negates (to a certain extent) the argument to the casual viewer, that horses are forced to jump by a man with a big stick, when clearly they are making that choice themselves.The race was very exciting to watch, especially when Jordans kicked for home and you (and I) knew that he wasn’t going to last. The right horses finished where you would expect them to. The fav (and top-weight) won it, the stables in form (Jonjo, Joseph, Willie and Gordon) filled out the first six places.
You had injured horses that received the best possible treatment in the world and hopefully no whip offence. The fences still provided a decent test and the ground was perfect.
The thing that bothered me the most though, was “Amateur” Patrick Mullins picking out one of the best rides for himself and then softly unseating at the first.“The thing that bothered me the most though, was “Amateur” Patrick Mullins picking out one of the best rides for himself and then softly unseating at the first.”
I hope a non Mullins horse wins the Bobbyjo next year or he’ll probably award himself the ride on it again.
“If he had hung onto him, he would have been beaten by further. There is no way he would have matched the finishing burst of the winner.”
Jordans would have had more in the tank to try and fend off anything running on if the jockey had held on to him for a bit longer. We won’t know for sure, people will have their own opinions, i think he might have won and you thinking not, but by doing what he did it meant we never got to find out. Fair play to Ben Jones for admitting he’d like that one back.
He might have had more in the tank, he might not. We can’t be sure he actually stays the trip. I’m not even sure Iroko stays to be honest. You keep increasing IAM official rating and in effect giving Iroko weight, I don’t think it makes any odds. IAM has two Aintree and one Irish Nationals in the bank. He stays all day. Iroko seldom wins even when he’s running ‘honestly’.
Its a unique test in terms of the fences and the trip and I don’t mean the fences being hard to jump, if anything its the opposite but so many horses waste time in the air over them. There are other marathon tests but few of them are weights headed by G1 placed horses who if we are being kind probably could go closer still in those G1s if being honestly run.
I Am Maximus hit a fair few of those fences on the way round and at one point you could have easily written him off. Jordans spent the first half of the race absolute last so both horses ran in my opinion great races.
The more I know the less I understand.
When they try to mention I Am Maximus in the same breath as Rummy it’s almost laughable and an insult to the legend of the sport.
Just watching the replays back you would have to think I Am Maximus probably wouldn’t have negotiated the 1st fence safely back in the 70s National’s. No way would he have jumped the big open ditch, Bechers & Chair with his clumsy style of jumping.
In fact I do wonder how many of the 34 on Saturday would have completed the 36 furlong plus course back in Rummy’s day?
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