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The Grand National is great again - let's make sure we don't forget that

Phil Smith: the senior handicapper made upgrading the quality of the Grand National a priority when first appointed
Phil Smith: the senior handicapper made upgrading the quality of the Grand National a priority when first appointedCredit: Edward Whitaker

It has not been a grand week for the National.

The great race fell at the first thanks to a misconceived weights launch, was then remounted only for Michael O'Leary to pull jockey Phil Smith out of the saddle, to be followed by new sponsors Randox Health attracting poor publicity after it was revealed two of its scientists had been arrested for alleged dirty deeds at the crossroads in one of their laboratories.

Regrettably the 2017 Grand National's PR has so far been a Laurel and Hardy production and one of the biggest cock-up since Mons.

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