It’s still the Grand National, but not as we once knew it

So, everyone is happy with last Saturday’s Grand National at Aintree then, the BHA, RSPCA (fairly), press and, of course, Aintree itself.

The jockeys who rode in the race, at least those who were asked, seemed pleased enough as well, indicating that the essence of the contest hadn’t been changed.

But if this was the Grand National to which we have become accustomed, the National of our youth and beyond, that of Red Rum, Crisp, L’Escargot, Aldaniti and Corbiere, then I’m a Chinaman.