OpinionDavid Jennings
premium

Getting to the Grand National shouldn't be a chore - it's time to radically alter the road to Aintree

Our deputy Ireland editor is frustrated by the build-up to the world's most famous race 

author image
Deputy Ireland editor
A delighted JJ Slevin poses for the cameras after Intense Raffles landed the Irish Grand National
Intense Raffles hasn't jumped a fence in public since April Fool's Day of 2024Credit: Getty Images

There's something wrong somewhere. 

It's the world's most famous horse race. Incomparable to anything else, anywhere in the world. They've changed things, albeit mostly for the worse, but it remains unique nonetheless. The colour of the fences, the way they are made, the trip, the venue, the build-up, the atmosphere, the everything. It's the Grand National and it's part of our DNA. It's in our blood from birth. 

Yes, it's a handicap. We get that. It can't be any other way or it would lose its identity, but there's something wrong somewhere when five of the top six in the market for this year's great race have form figures this season of 754, P8, 2F4, 90 and 589. 

Read the full story

Read award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing, with exclusive news, interviews, columns, investigations, stable tours and subscriber-only emails.

Subscribe to unlock
  • Racing Post digital newspaper (worth over £100 per month)
  • Award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing
  • Expert tips from the likes of Tom Segal and Paul Kealy
  • Replays and results analysis from all UK and Irish racecourses
  • Form study tools including the Pro Card and Horse Tracker
  • Extensive archive of statistics covering horses, trainers, jockeys, owners, pedigree and sales data
Subscribe

Already a subscriber?Log in

Published on inDavid Jennings

Last updated

iconCopy