The Grand National, the biggest event in horse racing, features a difficult track that can prove challenging for participants.
The Grand National is one of the highlights of the UK horse racing calendar, with a total prize pot of £1million on offer.
The triangular course, at Aintree Racecourse, has 16 fence jumps topped with spruce branches from the Lake District. Competitors are required to jump the first 14 twice before racing down the run-in to cross the finish line.
The most notorious of these jumps include Becher’s Brook, Foinavon, the Canal Turn, Valentine’s Brook, and the Chair which is the tallest jump standing at 5ft 3ins.
The total distance of the course covers more than four miles, which makes it the longest of any National Hunt race in the country.
Due to safety concerns, the length between the run to the first fence was reduced in 2012, while 12 of the fences were also reconstructed with a more flexible plastic material, making them more forgiving to horses than the traditional wooden fences.
However, the course does still provide a risk. The long distance that the horses are required to run, mixed with the dangers that come from a failed jump, can leave the animals at risk of non-treatable injuries and heart attacks.
