The toughest fences at Aintree’s Grand National course
The Grand National is one of the most prestigious races in all of horse racing, but part of that pedigree lies in the sheer difficulty to be crowned champion. To win at Aintree is to mark your name in the history books as one of the best National Hunt horses to have raced and while the horse those making a Grand National bet will be hoping that their favourite for this year delivers, the course can often provide some unpredictable finishes.
Indeed, not many would have predicted 50/1 outsider Noble Yeats to reign supreme in last year’s race, and with the return of a full-capacity crowd after a two-year absence, the atmosphere inside Aintree was immense. If even a fraction of that is recreated this year we are in for a treat, and after an encouraging fourth-place finish in the Gold Cup at last month’s Cheltenham Festival, it will be interesting to see if the Waley-Cohens can make it successive victories in the National and join a select group of Aintree elite.
However, the National is a gruelling slog of a race and whoever comes out on top will have thoroughly deserved it. The four-mile, two-and-a-half-furlongs will test both the horse and jockey’s endurance as well as their ability to navigate the variety of challenging fences that have proved infamous in years gone by. With that in mind, let’s observe some of the toughest hurdles to face at the Grand National and see if they will play a part in this year’s winner. Read on to find out more.
Becher’s Brook
Don’t be fooled by its deceptive size, Becher’s Brook is no fence to be taken lightly. Named after Captain Martin Becher, a jockey who rode a horse called Conrad that fell at this fence in the first official Grand National back in 1839, the Brook comes with hundreds of years of history and has laid waste to many a victim. In fact, in the last 50 races there have only been five instances where no horse has managed to fall off at Becher’s Brook. As the sixth fence of the race, it’s one to keep an eye on.
The Chair
Notoriously the most difficult fence to navigate ‘The Chair’ has a pit of water underneath it and is one of the highest obstacles a horse will face. It is the 15th fence that the runners jump but just one of two that the jockeys will only have to clear once. With the view of the grandstand setting an ironically picturesque scene, a solid run in can turn to catastrophe if The Chair is not navigated properly, but if the lengthy run-up is managed, it can be a step in the right direction which can build momentum for the finishing line.
Canal Turn
With four horses falling at the Canal Turn last year, this fence has perhaps been underestimated until recently. With horses having to deal with a sharp left turn in the run-up to the Canal Turn it’s easy to see how they can arrive off balance, causing chaos which has seen former winners and Gold Cup champions crumble even at a relatively early point in the race, being just the eighth fence. However, jockeys will need to circle it a second time at the 24th, but in the knowledge that if they stay on they are within touching distance of victory.
