Trainer Murphy fears for future of Grand National as RSPCA welcome Aintree safety changes

Ferdy Murphy, who has had 15 runners in the world’s most famous – and controversial – race says that Aintree is playing into the hands of its opponents by constantly modifying the 30-fence course “in response to public opinion”.

However, in a significant announcement ahead of the three-day meeting that begins today, the RSPCA’s equine consultant David Muir praised the changes which have been introduced after the last two Nationals were both marred by two equine deaths.

As well as the start of Saturday’s race being moved away from the cacophony of noise emanating from the packed grandstands, the traditional timber core has been removed from iconic spruce fences and replaced by a plastic base which is more forgiving.

Tested successfully last December in two races that passed without incident to the relief of the whole of racing, the new fences have their first major test when up to 25 runners go to post in the John Smith’s Fox Hunters’ Chase for amateur riders over one circuit of the demanding Merseyside course.

“Realistically, changes needed to be made and Aintree knew progress had to continue so we got together to see what we could do,” said Muir. “In all honesty they have done more than I thought they would. Fundamentally the changes that have been made are major already.

“They’ve taken the cores of the fences out, there is a cooling down area now, there’s a water system and there’s a reduction in the number of drop fences – we’d still like to see changes to Becher’s Brook, the drop is still a concern.

“Taking the cores out of the fences is a major step, I believe, and it is still an iconic race.”

Murphy will not be represented in Saturday’s showpiece; his only entry Poker De Sivola has been withdrawn and will not feature when the final declarations are announced at 10am today because of a training setback.

Yet he fears that the Aintree course is already on the back foot after publicly advising jockeys to slow down on the shortened run to the first fence in the National.

Already Daryl Jacob, last year’s winning jockey on Neptune Collonges, has pointed out that “everyone wants the perfect position” and Murphy said: “This should have been sorted out behind closed doors before the race, like it always has been in the past. It should not have been put in the public domain.

“If the jockeys don’t slow down, and then there is a problem with the first fence, what do Aintree do next year? Make the race even shorter so it is not such a test of stamina? By responding in this race, there will come a time when the issue will be about whether the Grand National can actually survive.

“Yet you only have to look at the record of the RSPCA. Though David Muir has done some good work, I believe the charity is operating for political reasons rather than animal welfare – look at the case where they spent £330,000 trying to prosecute a hunt in Oxfordshire.

“This was a politically-motivated campaign and Aintree need to be street-wise to what is going on. Do we want the race to be overseen by horsemen who understand the sport – or those who will not stop until the National is banned?”

Unbeaten Epsom Derby favourite Kingsbarns heads the 83 entries for the Betfred Dante Stakes at York on May 16.

Now regarded by many as the premier Derby trial staged in Britain, last autumn’s emphatic Racing Post Trophy winner at Doncaster is one of 24 representatives from the dominant Aidan O’Brien stable in Ireland.