Some things I've read in defence of jump racing: the horses are trained to race; they want to race and they love it; they want to be in front; to them, it's fun.

Well I can believe the first of those, and I can infer from that that they are simply doing as they're told. I don't know how you can possibly claim the others, as horses can't talk. Every year at the start of the race there are several nervous horses that won't get into line without a lot of chivvying, and the start always looks a bit shambolic to me. I suppose that not lining up properly doesn't matter much when you have four miles-plus to run.

I noticed that several jockeys pulled their horses up during the race, ostensibly because they were starting to detect some distress. I wonder if some jockeys are pressurised into keeping going at all costs. Also, I thought that for much of the race loose horses were an absolute menace this year.

Three horses died in this three-day meeting. Since 2010, 36 horses have died at the Grand National festival. 49 horses have died at horse-racing events this year alone. I've always been aware that horses can occasionally be fatally injured in the National, but I wasn't aware of these numbers until now and. I think they're shocking.

Those protesters did a successful job on me and I think they have a good point. Next year I think I'll bet on the FA Cup Final instead.