LESSONS for next year? You still need a relatively low weight for the Grand National, although that factor may have been exacerbated this year because of the soft ground. The first three horses home carried, respectively, 10st 7lb, 10st 8lb and 10st 6lb and 12 of the first 13 horses home carried less than 11st. This, despite the fact that two of the horses who carried more than 11st – Many Clouds and Silviniaco Conti – were 8/1 joint favourite and 12/1 third favourite respectively. That means that, in the four renewals of the Grand National since the course was modified, three of the four winners and six of the 12 placed horses carried 10st 8lb or less, while 10 of the 12 placed horses carried 10st 13lb or less.While a nine-year-old won the race and a 13-year-old was third, three of the first seven home were eight years old and one of them was seven. One of the eight-year-olds was 12lb well-in, but you cannot discount the possibility now that another eight-year-old winner may not be far off. You probably can’t be putting a line through eight-year-olds any more.