This is not the piece about the Grand National that I expected to write. I had planned to write one saying how the old magic of the race had gone, that the changes made to it in recent years had removed almost all the drama and the excitement. But let’s be honest. Yesterday’s race was a cracker. It was indeed a ‘throwback’ to the old days especially on the first circuit, when two of the leading fancies (Grangeclare West and Panic Attack) departed early on and other runners were soon separated from their riders. There were loose horses getting in the way, outsiders running huge races and one of those outsiders – the 28-1 shot Jordans – made a valiant dash for glory as the field headed for home. OK, he didn’t win, and the ending of the race was ‘predictable’ in that the well-backed, Willie Mullins-trained, Paul Townend-ridden favourite I Am Maximus won (again). But it had still been a thrilling renewal. 

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It reminded us – including those of us who had been quite depressed about how the National has changed – that we must fight tooth and nail to make sure we never lose it.

For all its modifications, for all the fact that it is now dominated by a few Irish owners and trainers (actually one Irish trainer and........

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