No explanation for why riders were left ducking due to start malfunction

On the eve of the Randox Health Grand National, Aintree suffered an unfortunate problem at the beginning of the Topham Chase, which began with a number of riders having to duck underneath the starting tape when it failed to rise properly.

The stewards forwarded a report to the BHA's London headquarters after interviewing officials and jockeys Richard Johnson, Daryl Jacob and Davy Russell.

The stewards' report noted: "The starter stated that after effecting the start, as the runners galloped away from him, he realised that part of the tape had not risen sufficiently on the inside, causing several jockeys to have to duck in order to avoid the tape.

"The riders interviewed stated that they had ducked to avoid the tape and had not suffered any disadvantage as a result."

An Aintree spokesman said: "This is obviously a different start to the one used in the Grand National but there's no explanation for how the malfunction occurred as the mechanism had been tried and tested this week, while it was also used in the Foxhunters on Thursday."

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