If you bet on horse racing you're just as guilty. For you to make the distinction between the Grand National and the races you bet is not only judgemental but wrong. I bet more horses have broken down in races you've bet than the Grand National. If that's true the blood lust as you say is one you.

Spyder

Spyder...I'm treading lightly here because I truly know very little about this race, but isn't it a given that at least one horse is going to break every year? I understand the passion for effort, etc, but if here was one T-Bred race that every year there was a death, wouldn't that race be heavily criticized?

someone told me that McKelvey wasnt put down as one might suspect from the fall, but by colliding with a barrier afterwards.. There is constant ongoing work involved trying to make the racecourse much safer for loose horses..

Im certainly of the opinion that steeplechase racing prolongs the life of many horses who are deemed not to be so good on the flat and could just be discarded with. Our champion hurdle winner, Katchit was a very moderate flat horse who with a great heart and superb jumping technique won the best hurdle race at Cheltenham. If there was no jump racing, there is no telling where he could be now..

McKelvey was put down after striking a rail/barrier as brock said, not as a result of a fall in the race itself. A very unfortunate incident.

It's the only race I get nervous about watching, and over recent years I cannot look at the TV until they have jumped the first fence. That charge to the first is scary.

Comply Or Die was the horse for me yesterday, he ticked all the right boxes and he could be the sort of horse to come back and win it again next year. He has always been a safe jumper, and as he showed in the eider, he stays very well.

It was between him and Bewley's Berry for me yesterday.