3 minute read

The Grand National 2023 will probably be remembered for the wrong reasons.

The start of the big race was delayed 15 minutes (although it looked as if it could have been a lot longer) by a bunch of idiot protesters who stormed the track.  Fortunately the police were prepared for this and managed a very commendable effort in clearing the track in such a short time.  If you truly care for horses you would never perform such upsetting action which meant the horses had to go back to the pre-parade and their stalls in some cases with handlers – and horses – not having a clue what was going on.  It could have even affected the horses' concentration and led to falls etc.

However the day belonged to Lucinda Russell and Derek Fox (who had taken any other rides all week in order to prepare for this one) and Corach Rambler who managed to stay safe in the middle of the field and then with about 3 to go move up and overtake the leaders and win by 2 ½ lengths.  Vanillier 20/1 ran a huge race and finished second with Gaillard du Mesnil third and Noble Yeats who was storming home at the end of the race took fourth.

Mister Coffey who had led valiantly for a long while eventually just ran out of steam and was 8th.  Aint That A Shame was the last of the 17 finishers.  Many of the shorter-priced horses were the victims of interference from horses who had already lost their riders.

Earlier in the day Jonbon won the Novices' Chase by 43 lengths – that's time enough to go and get a drink while waiting for the second horse to come home!

Irish Point won the Novices' Hurdle from Keteira and fav Hermes Allen.

The Liverpool Hurdle saw 8/1 shot Sire du Berlais get the win for Gordon Elliott and Mark Walsh from Marie's Rock and Flooring Porter.