Aintree Grand National Meeting

Just caught up on the racing today, I had Annamix in the Foxhunter. Really pleased with how he stayed on for 3rd!

My (not actually mine but I can dream!) beloved Francky Du Berlais is racing in the Topham tomorrow. He’s jumped round the National fences several times, including in the National, so I’m hoping he’s going to run well. He’s currently 28/1!

Clodagh said:
Off topic but did anyone see Secret Squirrel win at Taunton today? He’s my childhood dream pony, all ginger and blonde 🥰
Click to expand...

He’s just so stunning isn’t he 😍

https://twitter.com/x/status/1778403649519010140
 
Last edited:
Crazy_cat_lady said:
Wow just watching the fox hunters and the GN jumps are only up to the horses chests. It looks like a hurdle.
Click to expand...
That was my impression too - I couldn't believe it. They now look substantially smaller than the average chase fence, and it also seemed to me that there was even more loose birch (?) being knocked off the top as they jumped. If they reduce the height of the fences and then make the top, say, quarter of the fence out of material that can be knocked off, it doesn't bode well for the second 'go round' in the National. Horses aren't stupid, they will realise they can take liberties with the fences and just brush through them, (and what height will they be then? About hurdle height or even less?) thus encouraging speed over accuracy. As a spectacle the GN is ruined, it is just a long distance speed race and the fences are no longer imposing. I looked at them and thought I would fancy a jolly over them at my own pace. I never think that when I stand near the fences at say, Badminton!
 
Exactly I should be looking at them and thinking no way in hell I'd jump them

I'm scared of jumping but hell give me something that I could just cling onto a neck strap and I wouldn't mind a go, especially on the second circuit when they're probably even smaller than a hurdle

It's very underwhelming surely keep the height to make them respect them, those barely look like they require respect

Perhaps they should have done the reducing the field size, before they turned the fences into glorified hurdles?
 
humblepie said:
I think my feelings are very similar. Absolutely love watching a horse jumping fences - think of a horse getting every railway fence at Sandown spot on and pinging a leap. I grew up with that amazing picture of Pendil which some might know putting in a perfect leap and true poetry in motion
Click to expand...
Taken by the incomparable Ed Byrne. Pretty sure he was still working as a bus driver then, that was the photo that made him take up photography full time
 
Luckily I'm not watching so didn't see the fall but apparently he's been taken in horse ambulance to somewhere on the national course area & not back to the stables area.

Hope he will be ok.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top