End of an era as ‘controversial’ Grand National tradition declared ‘well and truly over’ after 23 years
A CONTROVERSIAL Grand National tradition designed to make the race fairer to all is now ‘well and truly over’ after 23 years.
This year’s Aintree feature will look radically different to previous years, with the number of runners slashed from 40 to 34 among several big changes approved by bosses.
But one that has quietly been altered without much mention is the ‘compression’ of the weights.
The weight every horse will carry in the £1million contest was revealed at a glitzy bash in Liverpool yesterday.
King George hero Hewick was given top billing of 11st12lb courtesy of his dramatic victory at Kempton on Boxing Day.
While last year’s runner-up Vanillier was made the bookies’ ‘clear favourite’ after being assigned just 10st8lb for shrewd Irish trainer Gavin Cromwell.
He looks like being one of three horses Sun Racing picked out as ahead of the assessor – while there was fury that under-fire bra tycoon Michelle Mone’s horse is being allowed to race.
BHA handicapper Martin Greenwood has a tough job assigning what he believes is the correct weight to all horses.
To do so, he has dropped entirely one method employed by his predecessor Phil Smith.
When he was in charge of handicapping staying chasers for the National, Smith employed a technique known as ‘compression’.
What this basically meant was horses rated the highest – and therefore set to carry the heaviest weight – were treated more leniently than other horses.
This was because the better horses tended to struggle in the National against horses of inferior quality who had the advantage of carrying lesser weight.
Smith officially brought the change in in 2001 – but some 23 years later Greenwood confirmed the method, which had been labelled ‘controversial’ in the past, had been scrapped entirely.
He said: “I think the days of compression of the weights for horses at the top of the handicap are now well and truly over.
“This is due to the evolving nature of the Grand National itself and how it has changed in recent years.
“So, in many ways I did not find this year’s race particularly difficult to handicap.”
However that isn’t to say that everyone is happy with the change.
Greenwood confirmed Sun Racing columnist Gary Moore was furious with the mark given to 34-length Welsh Grand National Nassalam.
The seven-year-old has been assigned 11st4lb – the sixth highest in the race – and ahead of the likes of last year’s winner Corach Rambler and Irish National hero I Am Maximus.
Explaining Moore’s anger, Greenwood said: “Gary hasn’t quite fallen out with me fully but he’s not been very happy with the rating of Nassalam after his 34-length romp at Chepstow.
“We all know Chepstow heavy ground is totally different to what a modern Grand National usually is.
“It might be soft here with all the rain we’re having – but I’m going to rate Nassalam on what he does at Chepsthow on heavy ground.
“I think I’ve been quite cautious with him. He won off 146 that day, he’s only 161 now and he won the length of the straight!”
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