SO how do you make it better? Leave it alone I’d say. It is still a great race. The bellies of the fences may be softer than they used to be, the distance of the race may be slightly shorter, the brooks may be covered over and the drops may not be as severe as they once were, but it is still a true test of horse and rider. The safety measures that were implemented are working, so there is no need to make it any easier.

It would have been nice to have seen Grand National stalwarts like Pineau De Re and Alvarado in the race for sure, but their handicap ratings were not high enough this year to get them into the top 40, so, disappointing though it is for connections, it is correct that they should not get to run.It would be great to see the introduction of a consolation Grand National, a race for the next 40 down, run on the Thursday. And isn’t it time now that every horse races off its correct handicap mark? There really is no need to handicap for ‘The Aintree Factor’ any more (the Cheltenham factor is not taken into account when handicapping for Cheltenham) and there is no need to compress the weights at the top end of the handicap in order to try to convince the high-class horses to run. They run anyway. The prestige and the prize money of the race – the most valuable jumps horse race in the world – ensure that. You can still have your jamboree at the unveiling of the weights, so no need to worry.