Aintree: Judge changes in time

Two races are staged over the Grand National fences at Aintree on Saturday but officials say it will take time to evaluate changes to the course.

Only one fence has been reduced in size

Two races are staged over the Grand National fences at Aintree on Saturday but the course don't want people to rush to judgement over the changes made to the course. A joint-review of the course and fences was published by Aintree and the BHA in April following the 2011 John Smith's Grand National in which two horses died. Talking to Graham Cunningham in a Racing UK feature that will be aired at 10.30am on Saturday, Aintree Managing Director Julian Thick said: "This is a case of evolution and should be placed in the context of the journey the Grand National has taken through its long history. "We don't want be judged on Saturday afternoon but over the longer term. We have made sensitive changes for the good of the race while not taking away from its essence or the challenge it presents. "It is always desperately sad to lose horses and we take safety and welfare very seriously. We review every race every year at Aintree, but the difference this year was that we were joined by BHA. "Our review went back 20 years and took in not just the national but all the races over the fences. Only one fence is being reduced and the majority of work has been done to the landing sides."