The new look national, I was there for this race, and it was hugely enjoyable, the cheer from the grandstand when it was announced that the whole field had jumped Bechers was deafening. The National today might well have its critics, but believe me having it this way instead of no National at all. it gets my vote. One thing that both Channel 4 and the Racing Channel missed during the coverage was the chaos at the last fence, you can just catch it during the run in, Mumbles Head refused at the last . leaving Roberto Goldblack and Sunnyhill Boy with nowhere to go and they both dumped their jockeys on the landing side of the fence and Chicago Grey who was last at the time came to a complete standstill, it took several minutes to untangle horses and jockeys from the obstacle.
I thought it was a shame that the course executive changed the winenrs enclosure... the original was so iconic. I know it still stands as a champagne bar but, you see what I mean. I am concerned that the safety changes to Bechers have made the race faster and introduced new dangers of the field bunching too much to the inside. I wonder if the next reform will be to reduce the size of the field.
Yes, I saw that mini-pile up at the last fence. Must have been very frustrating for all concerned having got round most of the course. I noticed the camera director changing the camera angle as soon as he saw Sunnyhill Boy appear to collide into Mumbles Head... didn't want a possible tragedy to be in-shot.
@@ssuganda You may well be right about scrapping the reserves starting the narrative for reducing the field. I found out that the reserve system has been brought in as recently as the year 2000... but then the race was not so under the spotlight by groups like Animal Rising.
becuase when channel 4 was televising the Cheltenham festival they made it feel like this Cheltenham festival is more important than the Grand National is just now an unwanted race in the British Calander and to me, it still does feel like that to me not sure about anyone else
It seems that the Aintree meeting had been upgraded since 1991... increasing the status of the novice hurdles and chases, the introduction of the Melling Chase. Looks established now as a mid-way meeting between Cheltenham and Punchestown. And the National itself attracts classier horses, although that is due more to the dilution of the jumping test.
The new look national, I was there for this race, and it was hugely enjoyable, the cheer from the grandstand when it was announced that the whole field had jumped Bechers was deafening.
The National today might well have its critics, but believe me having it this way instead of no National at all. it gets my vote.
One thing that both Channel 4 and the Racing Channel missed during the coverage was the chaos at the last fence, you can just catch it during the run in, Mumbles Head refused at the last . leaving Roberto Goldblack and Sunnyhill Boy with nowhere to go and they both dumped their jockeys on the landing side of the fence and Chicago Grey who was last at the time came to a complete standstill, it took several minutes to untangle horses and jockeys from the obstacle.
I thought it was a shame that the course executive changed the winenrs enclosure... the original was so iconic. I know it still stands as a champagne bar but, you see what I mean. I am concerned that the safety changes to Bechers have made the race faster and introduced new dangers of the field bunching too much to the inside. I wonder if the next reform will be to reduce the size of the field.
Yes, I saw that mini-pile up at the last fence. Must have been very frustrating for all concerned having got round most of the course. I noticed the camera director changing the camera angle as soon as he saw Sunnyhill Boy appear to collide into Mumbles Head... didn't want a possible tragedy to be in-shot.
Without a doubt, they started this year by scrapping the reserves, only a matter of time.
@@ssuganda You may well be right about scrapping the reserves starting the narrative for reducing the field. I found out that the reserve system has been brought in as recently as the year 2000... but then the race was not so under the spotlight by groups like Animal Rising.
@theracingdemon You were right. It's been reduced to 34.
Simon Holt the best commentator around since sir Peter o Sullivan
@pauljohnson Prefer Ian Bartlett.😊
when channel 4 got the right to show all horses racing this was the first I thought the Grand National had lost itself and I still believe this
becuase when channel 4 was televising the Cheltenham festival they made it feel like this Cheltenham festival is more important than the Grand National is just now an unwanted race in the British Calander and to me, it still does feel like that to me not sure about anyone else
It seems that the Aintree meeting had been upgraded since 1991... increasing the status of the novice hurdles and chases, the introduction of the Melling Chase. Looks established now as a mid-way meeting between Cheltenham and Punchestown. And the National itself attracts classier horses, although that is due more to the dilution of the jumping test.
@@theracingdemon3141 yea but it does spoiler good racing
@@theracingdemon3141 thanks for that heart emoji
@@theracingdemon3141 thanks again for the heart emoji
Could you add the build up for the next ones.
Unfortuately I don't have the footage of the build-up. Just the races themselves.