There are actually more fatalities at Cheltenham than Aintree because of the nature of the course. One of the problems with the National is that owners want a horse in it for prestige, even if the runner is way below the official handicap minimum, and it is often these that cause the pile-ups. The sport is a bit of a forelock-tugging anachronism; I used to follow it about 20 years ago but would have no regrets if it went and was relegated to paintings on pub walls.
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