The ground if often bottomless in that area in February. Wouldn’t be the same race at all.
Reduction in field size would be by first port of call rather than continually changing the fences. 32 runners with reserves. Most problems i’ve seen in recent years have been from Brought Down’s
The reduction in distance to the first might help, as would the starter not being such a prima dona and wanting his 15 minutes of fame every year.
So running it on soft wouldn’t be the same race at all but reducing the numbers to 32 would?
It’s a tough one. Lower numbers doesnt necessarily reduce the risk. In 1954 there were only 29 runners but 4 were killed (albeit on soft ground!). In 1975 there were 31 runners and 2 were killed. Since the war there have been 41 deaths, three caused by brought downs, 4 from heart attacks, the vast majority are from falls. There has also been a significant recent rise in the number of deaths caused when horses have continued racing riderless. Interesting that there was only 1 death in the whole of the 60’s – before the modifications to the fences were were made.
Overall there have been almost twice as many deaths on ground that is good or faster than good to soft or soft ground but I don’t know how many races have been run on good verses soft ground.
Anyway I know this should really be on a seperate thread so will stop there but for me it is simple – speed kills so the faster the ground the faster they will go and the more likely they are to be killed.
Not just soft – heavy with cold, wet conditions. Not going to happen
I don’t believe that only three horses have died due to BD’s. And fatalities should not be the only issue here. No other race has horses causing others problems as often as the National. Horses being hampered or squeezed reducing in unsafe landings i would include in my description when discussing the field size. You could stretch the field across the track and there would be barely any room left for manoeuvre – i don’t think that’s right.
Good ground should not be an issue.
Anyway, the racing in January and February is decent enough. Some quality graded races, some big handicaps.
Leave the midfweek bookie fodder alone and keep the powder dry for these races and Cheltenham.