The RSPCA has done its nadgers over Wincanton, as reported tonight online in the RP, while Winkers' Clerk of the Course has said there was (like Cheltenham last year) no common factor, which, to be fair, there wasn't. PRIEST'S BRIDGE took off so far off her take-off line that she had no chance of getting over the jump, and went crashing through it, with fatal results. This was simple horse error, sadly. WARLORD might've taken off wrong, too, as he certainly clatters his hurdle and knocks himself out, bringing down the equally unfortunate STARSINHISEYES, who ran on injured, and was later destroyed.
However, the RSPCA isn't too happy with these 'no common factor' explanations, it seems clear, so the HRA is going to have to make sure it's seen to be doing all it can with its lengthy reviews and analyses of every fatality, as Cheltenham seems to have done to improved effect, and to counsel courses where improvements might help reduce injuries and deaths.
One thing I've noted is that while some fences appear to be perfect strides apart for the 'average-striding' horse, every now and then there's a fence which isn't for any of them - they have, usually, to shorten up to clear it. When they're tired, or even near exhaustion, in the closing stages, the last thing you want is a trick-stride obstacle. Hence so many bunny-hops and flat-footed landings, I think - maybe Clerks should try to ensure that they're not mismeasuring distances between obstacles? As Merlin says - just a thought!