The Road To The 2013 Grand National

I've got it between:

Prince de Beauchene
Imperial Commander
Teaforthree

The best jumpers in the field

Cappa Bleu - Nicely weighted

Chicago Grey - Kind of gone off him but took a huge price when the weights were released

Across the Bay - Only on soft
Roberto Goldback - Only on good
Joncol - Only on soft
 
Beccy Curtis saying she will have to drive Teaforthree all the way to Aintree on the day of the race as when he went to Haydock overnight he was fractious and didn't eat up.
Not sure if that's a major disadvantage but it's not ideal.
 
WTF was that leaflet doing in the racing post today?if you havent seen it it was animal aid basically saying ban the grand national.
 
Chris Cook in The Guardian

Changes to the Grand National have been praised as "a big step forward for horse welfare" by the RSPCA's chief executive, Gavin Grant, speaking in the build-up to the Aintree race on 6 April. Nevertheless, Grant remains concerned about aspects of the contest in the wake of four horse deaths over the past two years and anticipates that Becher's Brook may have to be removed if it causes more injuries.

"I said last year that Becher's is on a yellow card," Grant said, "and, if we see repetition of the problems that we have had there before, then that will be a second yellow card and it will be time for Becher's to go."

He added: "I want to pay tribute to Aintree and the British Horseracing Authority because they have acted on the vast majority of the concerns we expressed following last year's race."

In particular, he was pleased that the cores of all National fences have been softened and also listed as improvements the moving of the start to a place further from the grandstands, the track's new capacity to water the entire course to avoid fast ground and the increase in numbers of horse-catchers and run-off areas where loose horses can be corralled.

But Grant said that two issues still worry him: the continued existence of Becher's Brook and the fact that the maximum number of runners has not been reduced from 40. He met last week with David Abraham, chief executive of Channel 4, which will screen the race for the first time, to express those concerns.

On the subject of field size, Grant said: "The bunching of horses and the nature of the fences means there is a lack of space when horses get into difficulties."

While accepting that horses and jockeys who fall below certain minimum standards are prevented from taking part, Grant said there could still be "novice jockeys riding first-time horses ... and we shall look carefully at any incidents involving those."

He added that Aintree had granted permission for a display about the RSPCA's work to be mounted during the three-day National meeting and that a large number of the charity's equine specialists would be placed around the course during the race itself.

"We will be there in force, to watch out for what's happening and to assist in any way we can, for example with catching the loose horses. We're all hoping for an injury-free event, with the focus on the athleticism of the horses and the skills of the jockeys."

Responding for the BHA, Robin Mounsey said that, after consultation with trainers and jockeys, there was "general acknowledgement that the Grand National course is wide enough to accommodate the current number of runners" and that the quality of entries is as high as ever. Of Becher's Brook, he said that: "neither of the incidents which led to the unfortunate fatalities [last year] were foreseeable or directly attributable to the nature of Becher's Brook as a fence" and that the fence had since been jumped without incident in other races.
 
Diamond Geezer said:
Chris Cook in The Guardian



But Grant said that two issues still worry him: the continued existence of Becher's Brook and the fact that the maximum number of runners has not been reduced from 40. He met last week with David Abraham, chief executive of Channel 4, which will screen the race for the first time, to express those concerns.
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What the fook has it got to do with him exactly? He may as well met with John McCrirrick for all the difference it would make.
 
"Bechers is on a yellow card" - who made him the twatting ref?! We need to tell these do-gooders to p!ss off out of our sport, not pander to them and let then have a display of their work at the grand national FFS.

It's like giving the Taliban the opportunity to have a display about their cause at ground zero. Highly inappropriate and not welcome in the slightest.

RSPCA, Animal Aid et al should be told politely to keep their noses out.
 
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BennyB said:
"Bechers is on a yellow card" - who made him the twatting ref?! We need to tell these do-gooders to p!ss off out of our sport, not pander to them and let then have a display of their work at the grand national FFS.

It's like giving the Taliban the opportunity to have a display about their cause at ground zero. Highly inappropriate and not welcome in the slightest.

RSPCA, Animal Aid et al should be told politely to keep their noses out.
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The last thing racing needs is to declare war on the more reasonable animal welfare organisations.
 
Depends whether you class the RSPCA as reasonable. Should we be grateful that they don't want our sport banned (yet)? Personally I just feel resentful that they see it as their right to meddle in it.
 
"We will be there in force, to watch out for what's happening and to assist in any way we can, for example with catching the loose horses. We're all hoping for an injury-free event, with the focus on the athleticism of the horses and the skills of the jockeys."

The cynic in me read this...

"We will be everywhere, watching every move whilst sticking our oar in wherever we can and saving the horses from the heathens. We're all hoping for an injury free event, although we're not sure you are and whilst you're focused on the athleticism of the horses and skills of the jockeys we will be searching for the next nail to hammer into the national's coffin"

I'm absolutely for the prevention of cruelty but this is not cruelty, not unless we're treating animals and humans equally and it's supercilious verbiage like this that really winds me up:

"I said last year that Becher's is on a yellow card," Grant said, "and, if we see repetition of the problems that we have had there before, then that will be a second yellow card and it will be time for Becher's to go."

There is so much wrong with that statement. I was unaware the RSPCA had assumed the role of Judge and Jury :mad:
 
Aragorn said:
"We will be there in force, to watch out for what's happening and to assist in any way we can, for example with catching the loose horses. We're all hoping for an injury-free event, with the focus on the athleticism of the horses and the skills of the jockeys."

The cynic in me read this...

"We will be everywhere, watching every move whilst sticking our oar in wherever we can and saving the horses from the heathens. We're all hoping for an injury free event, although we're not sure you are and whilst you're focused on the athleticism of the horses and skills of the jockeys we will be searching for the next nail to hammer into the national's coffin"

I'm absolutely for the prevention of cruelty but this is not cruelty, not unless we're treating animals and humans equally and it's supercilious verbiage like this that really winds me up:

"I said last year that Becher's is on a yellow card," Grant said, "and, if we see repetition of the problems that we have had there before, then that will be a second yellow card and it will be time for Becher's to go."

There is so much wrong with that statement. I was unaware the RSPCA had assumed the role of Judge and Jury :mad:
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I agree with this too, the RSPCA doesn't own the race, and this guy is overstepping his role. Nevertheless they have enough influence to destroy the race's credibility with the general public so it's better to work with them. Taking them on would be madness, would you want NH racing to be characterised as pro cruelty by a mainstream organisation, and would you want to oppose their general cause anyway?
 
I am certainly opposed to their stance on fox hunting.

They are a political, rather than an animal welfare organisation and should be treated as such.
 
A crowd of misguided clowns...yet again political correctness comes to the hindrance of common sense. Can't believe how much rein these clowns have been given. The Grand National is a huge money spinner (not just for the bookies)...meddling with the race will only lessen it's appeal.
 
trefflich said:
A crowd of misguided clowns...yet again political correctness comes to the hindrance of common sense. Can't believe how much rein these clowns have been given. The Grand National is a huge money spinner (not just for the bookies)...meddling with the race will only lessen it's appeal.
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Are you objecting to the message to the jockeys?
 
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