Outsider claims Grand National in casualty-free spectacle

A rank outsider has stormed habitation to claim Britain’s Grand National steeplechase, with no fatalities inwards the controversial race an added drive for celebration inwards racing circles.

The Grand National has been nether growing scrutiny inwards recent years, with concerns close the unacceptable reveal of casualties on the gruelling Aintree course.

The race has claimed xi horses since 2002.

Following yet farther modification to the jumps to brand them safer – at a terms of to a greater extent than than £1 i thou k – in addition to racing inwards ideal conditions in addition to underfoot conditions, nil brusque of a casualty-free race would get got kept beast rights protesters at bay.

And in addition to so it transpired.

Aintree manager John Baker said: “Far fewer fallers were recorded inwards the 2013 John Smith’s Grand National, equally with the other races over the Grand National Course during the meeting.

“The novel structure of the fences appeared to play a pregnant business office inwards the spectacle in addition to nosotros also ask to recognise the business office the jockeys get got played correct from the off. British racing should move tremendously proud of their contribution today.

“As ever, nosotros volition review every facial expression of today’s race. We volition non stand upwards all the same hither at Aintree.

In total, exclusively ii horses brutal during the race, with half dozen jockeys unseated. It was the outset fourth dimension inwards 166 runnings of the Grand National that the entire plain was inwards disceptation upwards to the Canal Turn, he said.

“All horses in addition to jockeys racing today returned safely.”

The race was won past times 66-1 outsider Auroras Encore, ridden past times Scottish jockey Ryan Mania. The win made Sue Smith, 65, exclusively the 3rd adult woman trainer inwards history to develop a winner inwards Britain’s most famous steeplechase.

The 11-year-old stormed habitation inwards a flawless surgical operation over the tough course of study to win past times nine lengths.

Cappa Bleu finished second, with Teaforthree in addition to Oscar Time 3rd in addition to 4th respectively.

Sue Smith’s husband, one-time international showjumper Harvey Smith, said: “All of the horses get got come upwards dorsum inwards i slice in addition to that is a bonus. Sue did an interview yesterday in addition to she said that the clerk of the course, Lord Daresbury in addition to the RSPCA get got all worked difficult to larn it equally a rubber course. They get got proven it today that it is safe.

“They get got done a outset degree job, they get got tried their best. This race volition larn on forever – await at the public. People honey this race, it goes out worldwide – you lot can’t trounce it.”

The charity World Horse Welfare, an independent welfare adviser to the British Horseracing Authority, said it welcomed the race outcome, but said at that spot was all the same a ask to cut the reveal of runners.

The charity’s principal executive, Roly Owers, said: “This race was exciting in addition to volition move remembered for all the correct reasons. We’re really pleased that all the horses in addition to riders returned safely.

“World Horse Welfare’s reveal i occupation organization with the Grand National was the numbers of fallers, in addition to so today is an fantabulous result.

“We are really pleased that exclusively ii horses fell, in addition to piece some unseated their riders, none were brought downwardly past times other horses.

“This had been a occupation for almost l per cent of the plain over the past times few years. In this race it amounted to twenty per cent of the field, which is a dandy stride forward.”

Owers said Aintree could bring considerable credit for the improvements made to the course of study – peculiarly the most pregnant changes to the fences inwards the race’s 160 yr history.

“It is likewise early on to tell with certainty whether the softer fences are making a difference, but with fewer falls inwards the other races held on the National course of study over the past times ii days the initials signs are encouraging.

“We are also pleased that in addition to so many jockeys rode the early on business office of the race sensibly in addition to afterward inwards the race when they made skillful decisions to describe their horses upwards rather than pursue the contest.

“We would all the same similar a lawsuit reduction of the maximum plain size to unopen to thirty to farther lessen the risk. This race demonstrated nosotros are moving inwards the correct direction, but the risks to Equus caballus in addition to passenger were all the same twice that of other national hunt races.”

Dr Mark Kennedy, from the World Society for the Protection of Animals, told CNN: “We are delighted at that spot get got been no fatalities.”

However, he said the deaths of Battlefront, from a suspected oculus attack, in addition to Little Josh, from a broken shoulder, on the outset ii days of the Grand National coming together reflected the electrical flow jeopardy of fatalities inwards steeplechasing which needed to move addressed equally a affair of urgency.

“Horse deaths or  fatalities at the Grand National are non freak accidents, but statistical probabilities.

“The risks evidence to move high each year. We are non calling for a ban of the Grand National or a ban of Equus caballus racing, but simply to brand the race safer for the Equus caballus in addition to indeed the jockey.”

The British RSPCA said it hoped the changes made to the Aintree course of study had helped to avoid fatalities inwards the outset Grand National inwards 3 years.

The charity’s equine consultant, David Muir, said: “It is dandy word that all these horses finished the race unscathed in addition to that nosotros get got seen this race complete without serious injury or death.

“Although the testing nature of the Grand National volition ever arrive at a higher bird of risk, that jeopardy must move appropriate in addition to nosotros are hopeful that the changes made in addition to so far get got gone some agency to exercise a skillful race which doesn’t get got to involve the suffering of animals.”

RSPCA principal executive Gavin Grant said he was delighted that the changes appeared to get got contributed to a rubber yet competitive race.

“We exercise Federal Reserve annotation that a reveal of horses appeared really tired towards the halt of the race. We volition examine this inwards preparing our study for the British Horseracing Association in addition to Aintree on the whole meeting.”

He said the charity was grateful to Aintree in addition to the British Horseracing Authority for working with the RSPCA inwards making the improvements.

“We mean value that this constructive dialogue is the best agency to better the welfare of racehorses.”

The grouping Animal Aid said inwards a statement: “It was a calmer, less deeply lamentable race to spotter compared with terminal year.

“With the Earth favouring horses staying on their feet, at that spot were fewer fallers, in addition to less evident exhaustion.

“However, out of 93 runners entered into the 3 races on the Grand National course of study this week, ii horses died, several fell, in addition to a large reveal pulled upwards – some perchance injured. The course, therefore, all the same presents a potentially lethal challenge to horses.”

 

 

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