The magic of Aintree

However hard some people try to make it a business, jump racing remains a sport and the Grand National its greatest race. Two fences out this year 20 horses were still in contention, ten still seemingly in with a serious chance of winning. As Ruby Walsh noted: ‘If that doesn’t convince people it’s a wonderful sport I’m not sure what will.’ Of the 32 starters 21 finished. Four horses unseated their riders and seven were pulled up but not one fell.

Still in the battle two out were the three ‘story horses’. Latenightpass was point to point trainer Tom Ellis’s first runner under Rules, owned by his mother and ridden by his wife Gina Andrews. Kitty’s Light has been a beacon of hope, rallying Welsh trainer Christian Williams and his wife as their six-year-old, Betsy, battles leukaemia. Then there was Ain’t That A Shame, ridden for the sheer love of the game by 40-plus amateur David Maxwell.