Portrait King ew!

0-0 at the Riverside since you ask!

As usual, I've got E/W bets on a few horses.

As a "favourite", I've gone for Rocky Creek rather than Shutthefrontdoor, although I also managed to get Soll at 20/1 (it's around 11/1 now).

Long shot - Unioniste.

He is still in the running............

Open the FRONT DOOR>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

 Should have been......left behind the stable door....

did you have an Each-Way bet, Syd?

I'm not sure about this year, but in the past some bookies have paid out for 5th place. Also I know some online bookies are returning bets if your horse finishes 5th or 6th...

I am an intrepid gambler, and put my £1 on to win.....

Ah well...

Still: great win for Many Clouds.  

Wasn't able to reply to this sooner: he's been taken to Leahurst Equine Hospital for "assessment", but hopefully it's just precautionary.

 

I've been wary of doing a "Grand National" thread for the last couple of years as I know a number of FMs were upset by the number of deaths a few years back, but this year's race really did seem to show that lessons have finally been learned.

Great efforts were taken to dampen down the ground prior to the race; there's been increased efforts to attract a "higher quality" of horses and riders; the emergency tent set up at the Canal Turn for Balthazar King seemed to work well; Ruby Walsh showed that there was still enough leeway in the rules to allow for common sense and initiative in directing the field to avoid trouble; and at one point the entire field managed a complete circuit of the course without a single faller or unseated rider - an astonishing statistic.

 

And did all this have any adverse affect on the race? Nope - it was still really exciting, and the first four finishers all had odds of 20/1 or greater...

I didn't bet on  it,although the national seems to have gone well,a horse died in one of the earlier races.I  don't know if any more died during the meeting.The winner was on the point of collapse and needed treatment etc to cool off.the owners stated "oh he's always like this.".etc.not impressed.

I  took a punt on Spring Heeled which finished... nowhere.

 

So pleased that all horses escaped serious injury though.

Its cruel - should be banned

When a horse get shot in the head because we like to be entertained

(I don't see why you would be entertained by that St. Renton)

Horses aren't made to do anything. If they don't want to do something then they don't.
Donks is correct! There are a small majority of people not fit but the industry is quick to get rid of them.
Horses get out and about and have lots of exercise.
Compare and contrast to people who keep inappropriate dogs and think a 30m walk on a leash is sufficient, or of course my own bête noir, factory farming.

I'm far from entertained by that

 

And as a pack animal horses 'will' do stuff they don't want to

Its cruel - simple as that

We risk their lives for entertainment - and we know it

That sounds like I'm angry - but I'm not

I'm just saying ...

I whole heartedly agree