Experts defend Aintree decision

Key figures have come out in defence of the Grand National, which ended in farcical circumstances on Saturday. Only four horses completed the famous race to leave critics questioning the decision by the Aintree authorities to go ahead with the event despite the terrible rain and poor conditions underfoot.

While the winner, Red Marauder, was basking in the attention of the world's media at his Durham stable the rest of the racing industry are still coming to terms with a race which has been labelled a farce, lottery and shambles.

But trainers have united in their agreement that the National should have gone ahead, citing unforeseeable circumstances as the reason for the high number of casualties. And Tristram Ricketts, the secretary-general of the British Horseracing Board threw the support of racing's governing body fully behind Aintree. He insisted: "The decision as to whether to race at Aintree was the responsibility of the very experienced local stewards who clearly considered that it was safe for the whole programme to proceed. Their judgement should not be questioned lightly. Safety is always the primary consideration and those responsible would have had no hesitation in abandoning the race or card if they felt that safety would be unnecessarily compromised."

Peter Scudamore, the former champion jump jockey and now assistant trainer to Nigel Twiston-Davies, was in no doubt that racing should have gone ahead. He stressed: " Of course they should have raced. Why shouldn't they have raced? In different conditions horses would still have fallen. Some horses go in that ground, it is the nature of the sport - it is an outdoor sport. It was the loose horses that caused the mayhem."

Last year's winner Papillon has reported no complaints, after being remounted to finish a weary last of four. Indeed, trainer Ted Walsh reckons the gelding took less out of himself than when winning the Aintree showpiece 12 months previously. With the foot and mouth restrictions preventing his return to Ireland Papillon - remounted by Ruby Walsh after being hampered at the 19th fence on Saturday - will remain at Liverpool.

The trainer confirmed: "He is absolutely perfect today and as fresh as paint, it took less out of him than last year as for the last mile and a half he was going at his own pace." (PA)

Filed by Shane Murray