I CANNOT see another horse in their teens running in the Grand National after the events at Aintree last weekend.
Indeed, I'll be stunned if officials don't cap the 2026 renewal to horses aged 12 or under.
That in no way is a criticism of the connections of Celebre d'Allen, who from complications linked to pleuropneumonia (a lung infection).
And I also say it as someone who has written numerous articles on the fact age is not necessarily the reason why a horse's ability might deteriorate as they get older.
For the record, there is no science that suggests a 13-year-old horse in good health can't perform just as well as an 11-year-old.
I also loathe the fact that any restriction takes one more thing away – that old magic – from the .
If and when a 12-year-old passes what will we do then is the obvious cry?
But the simple truth is that public perception – even when misguided and lacking facts – is now all important in the world of horse racing.
It's the reason the whip rules are shambolic and the Grand National track has been massively altered. Perception. That is it.
How have we got to this?
Well, it’s the road the powers that be have gone down, and it's now like a runaway train.
Right at the start people needed to stand up for racing. They didn't. They caved in.
So now we are in a game of chipping away at all of it. One day there will be nothing left to chisel.
The modern day Grand National is very unlikely to be won by an animal qualified for veterans’ events.
Not many teenage horses are rated over 160, and it appears by recent results that is the kind of ability you need to land the prize.
More importantly, it's just too easy for the public to be up in arms if a teenage horse gets killed in the Grand National.
It didn't happen during the race this year, but it did a few days after.
Another horse will pass in the race in the future. It's what happens in life. This is a tough game.
Some can't accept that. I can. I understand that racehorses only have a life because of the sport they are involved in, and most have a wonderful time.
But some simply won't accept that.
They think without the Sport of Kings racehorses would still exist and be out in a field having a great time.
Of course even if most of that were true, racehorses would still die through accidents.
Indeed, more would pass in a field on their own as their genes are not designed for self-survival.
But again, a certain group of the public don't get that either. It's just the world we live in.
Former Grand National hero Brendan Powell – who scored on Rhyme ‘n' Reason in 1988 – messaged on X, formerly Twitter, that Aldaniti, Red Rum, L'Escargot, Royal Athlete, Amberleigh House, Little Polveir, Ben Nevis, Highland Spirit and Team Spirit all won the Grand National aged 12. It's a fact.
It's also correct that Peter Simple won the race aged 15 in 1853 and Why Not aged 13 in 1894.
But all those great names mentioned took part before the changes to the fences in what we now know as the ‘old' Grand National.
Those came in 2013, and since 2015 the age of the Grand National winner has been consistently lower than in the past, namely 9, 8, 8, 9, 8, 7, 9, 8, 8.
It's now a classy speed test over a long distance.
Of course the feature betting race today is the Coral Scottish Grand National Handicap Chase over 4m.
There will be no surprise if Willie Mullins wins this as he chases another trainers’ championship, but WALKING ON AIR makes some appeal at long odds for an upset.
Ridden by Richie McLernon, Walking on Air has a first run for Faye Bramley having been trained by Gary Brown when not disgraced at Cheltenham last time.
It's his fifth at Cheltenham in the 2023 Pertemps Final which catches the eye.
That was over hurdles for Nicky Henderson, but he kept on well over the three miles off a mark of 138 and goes here off 128.
It suggests the ability is all there and this ground looks perfect. I'll chance him each-way.
In the OLBG Spring Cup Handicap at Newbury over 1m I’m going to chance CLASSIC from a good draw for James Doyle riding for Richard Hannon.
Classic has been gelded for this effort, and had some good form last season including when a very unlucky sixth in a valuable handicap over this trip at Goodwood.
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
- Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
- Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
- Never chases their losses
- Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
- Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
- Gamble Aware – www.gambleaware.org
Find our .
