Moving of start among Grand National amendments
Various amendments to Britain’s most famous race were made in time for this year’s race, but the deaths of According To Pete and the Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Synchronised created further unpleasant headlines for the sport.
With the start now moved further away from the crowds and grandstands, the distance of the race will be around four miles and three and a half furlongs, rather than four and a half miles.
Other changes include the ‘no-go’ zone being extended from 15 yards to around 30 yards from the starting tape, while the starter’s rostrum has been moved to a position between the tape and the ’no-go’ zone to reduce the potential for horses to go through the starting tape prematurely.
There will be a specific briefing between the starters’ team and the jockeys on the day, part of a concerted BHA effort to improve starts in National Hunt races.
They are also looking at measures to reduce the possibility of a riderless horse travelling an extended distance before being caught prior to the National start.
Jamie Stier, director of raceday operations and regulation for the BHA, said: “Our objective in recommending changes to the start is to identify ways in which we can create a calmer and more controlled environment for both horse and rider.”
“It is possible that a more controlled environment at the start, along with reducing the distance between the start and the first fence, could have the effect of reducing the early speed of the race. If this were to be the case, it would be an added benefit.”
Aintree and the BHA are to embark on a three-year programme looking at alternative fence designs on the National course.
The so-called ’core’ of the fences are currently made up of timber and protective rubber padding, but some will be trialled with a difference core at the meeting in December. The fence heights will, however, remain unchanged.
Becher’s Brook has undergone further levelling of the wider landing zone — “correcting the settlement which occurred following works carried out in 2011” — but the fence itself remains the same.
Work has also been done on the landing areas of fences four, five and 13.
The field size is to remain at 40 runners, while £100,000 has been invested to help further improve the course’s watering capabilities.
However, the RSPCA, while supportive of many of the changes, voiced several points of worry, and a statement read: “We remain concerned that two significant issues have not been addressed sufficiently by these changes. These are the impact of Becher’s Brook and the field size which remains the same.
Dual National winner Ruby Walsh said: “They moved it (the start) they felt out of the enclosure and further down to take the atmosphere out of the way from the jockeys I suppose. It’s no harm, the changes they made last year. I might have initially been opposed to them but they were good things.
“I suppose anything you can do to help the National is a good thing.”
