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Maybe a coincidence but yesterday:
Hill Sixteen First time cheekpieces Fell
Fortescue First time blinkers Tailed Off
The Big Breakaway First time blinkers Fell
Dunboyne First time blinkers PU
Evas Oskar First time visor Unseated
All fully experienced chasers, so why would you feel the need to experiment with new headgear in this race.
From a quick look, none of those horses went into the race in good form AP, less likely to run to form than those coming into the race in form. So yes could be coincidental. Some possibly put them on due to temperament issues. The Big Breakaway often doesn’t go through with his effort. Grabbing stronger headgear as a last resort?
I suppose connections were clutching at straws hoping the headgear brings a return to form.
There may be a case for banning headgear in the Grand National. Seem to remember Paddys Return had blinkers so couldn’t see the other horses when loose and running in front of the field at Canal Turn.
Value Is Everything““You’re right, I’m ‘ignorant’ and need ‘educating’.”
Said no one EVER.”
Wrong. If I know nothing about a subject, I ask people to explain it to me.
I assume you don’t?
🤔 Alan
I would imagine the reason they risked these devices was for the same reason that Richard Pitman bit into Crisp a little too hard in and around the elbow, chasing the ultimate glory and a win in the most famous steeplechase in the world and that was at a time when horseracing was an exciting sport and it’s purity reigned unchallenged.I watched a recording of the race at 2130 with four people who were all blissfully unaware of the result; sleepy head gamble who I released from the sock drawer, and two ladies one young and one older, and me of course the quizzling of the party – also a box of Ferrero a bottle of good red wine and a packet of Tesco’s finest mature cheese (£3.90) that came all the way from Cornwall to be demolished by my remaining gnashers. The race had to be paused while the young lady was contacted on an infuriatingly interrupting hand held device. We were not in church…
I will refill my teacup.
Couple other observations. Davy Russell made the point that the start needs looking at. Sometimes seems a bit uncontrolled and seemed even more edgy yesterday I think partially due to the preceding events. Horses and jockeys both get gee’d up I think. Maybe a collecting area and then standing start would be better.
Also looses horses struggle to have anywhere to go other than to continue jumping with the remaining mounted runners. Those on the inside yesterday early on had no option than to continue jumping with clear potential to create havoc. Would require some major course/layout alterations and I know can happen on park courses but always seems a bigger problem here.
Finally, I thought they were overly keen to get the race away as near off-time as possible and there seemed to be a real hurry-up once the protesters cleared, maybe to meet TV deadlines/schedules, etc. Maybe a bit more time to settle everything a bit before setting off would have helped. That is hindsight though and I appreciate if they’d done so and similar outcome we’d be sitting saying they should have got them away without further delays.One thing is sure. Those opposing the race will not be happy with anything that is done to ‘reduce’ risk. They just want it stopped entirely.
Mac the knife is quite right – it was like the bloody Wild West out there and the bad EES were desperate to get away from the law.
The facts…
South Australia is now the second state to ban the sport through legislation after New South Wales. Victoria is the only jurisdiction in Australia that now holds jumps racing events.
Macfact…
“One thing is sure. Those opposing the race will not be happy with anything that is done to ‘reduce’ risk. They just want it stopped entirely.”
I may be back with some stats… however it is near coffee time.
“Wrong. If I know nothing about a subject, I ask people to explain it to me.
I assume you don’t?”
That’s completely different – in the scenario you describe you’re already unilaterally aware you lack knowledge on a subject and are proactively asking for education on it.
In my experience no one reacts well to being told they are ignorant and need educating about anything.
The dictionary definition of the word “ignorant” isn’t derogatory per se, but in reality few use the term with any other motive.
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"What are you like?
I am smiling at the uber pedantry, though!
I am "The Horse Racing Punter" on Facebook
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"2 legged work deaths last year
29 died from falling (highest)
23 died being struck by moving vehicles
18 died from being hit by moving objects.This is why I spend a lot of time in bed.
The most dangerous industry was agriculture fishing and corsetry – sorry forestry.
The pundit jockey who said that winning the Grand National was better than sex and quite honestly when he does finally reach the pearly gates he may much regret that statement because it goes half way to approving of bestiality and strange bedroom practices involving whips….
However Ken Livingstone admitted making love in his bedroom whilst watching the News at Ten – and I cannot disagree with Ken that the news can be exciting and is not to be missed at times.Well damn I have forgotten the jockeys name – put that down to my age – well he said there was a time when everyone owned a horse ( it was not in my long extended lifetime) and he went on that horses oft get more care than people. He said that people who work can sometimes die comparing that with unfortunate horse deaths.
Unfortunately gamble eased himself out of his drawer and did some checking…..
To follow…
The starter needs to let them go
If a jockey isn’t ready in the “biggest” race of the year so be it
if the horse is at fault then so be it, it gets left behind. If a horse is slow out the gates in the stalls in a flat race the starter won’t call them backGaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026
“29 died from falling (highest)
23 died being struck by moving vehicles
18 died from being hit by moving objects.This is why I spend a lot of time in bed.”
More people die in bed.
Me, hopefully on the job..
Gaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026
Did someone mention starting stalls?
Given it’s inevitable that in 20 years’ time the Grand National will be a Flat race over a single circuit of the course and will be dubbed “The Race That Stops The Nation” a la Melbourne Cup, starting stalls will be the first stage of moving out of denial into acceptance.
Few in racing can read the increasingly woke global room – the world is slowly starting to regard horse racing the same way people today now regard Gladiator fighting (they bet on that too) in Ancient Rome back in the day.
I am "The Horse Racing Punter" on Facebook
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"“However, tomorrow’s brekkie news shows will be all over it. Fully expecting GMB to have 2 ‘opposing’ guests shouting at each other at some point…i reck there’ll be comment and discussion on every single ITV show tom morn. Namely, Lorraine, This Morning and Loose Women.”
Perhaps but so what? It will be a 5 minute item at the most and in the era of short attention spans will be forgotten about before the morning is over.
Here is my prediction. Next year’s Grand National will have 40 runners, Aintree will be a sell out and the millions of once a year punters will still have their 50p each way on the horse with the name they like the most.
Here is my prediction. Next year’s Grand National will have 39 runners, Aintree will almost be a sell out and the millions (but a bit down on this year) of once a year punters will still have their 49p each way on the horse with the name they like the most.
This will be a slow burner, but the flame won’t go out – it will burn and burn, probably just about in line with the mortality rate, as this looks an ongoing existential threat that is generational to me.
I am "The Horse Racing Punter" on Facebook
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https://www.facebook.com/ThePointtoPointNHandFlatracingpunter/
It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"
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