The Grand National must have lost its attraction for many a racing fan as early as the eighth fence, when the much-loved veteran Balthazar King fell and was cannoned into by Ballycasey, who had been following him. As television pictures took a head-on view of the field jumping the next, Balthazar King could be seen in the background, struggling and failing to get to his feet.
The 11-year-old, who had been runner-up in the previous year’s National, was behind double green screens as the field came past on the second circuit and it was at this point that Ruby Walsh, having been unseated from Ballycasey, played an unexpected and modestly heroic role. With so many of the available attendants securing the screens around Balthazar King and assisting the vet, there was hardly anyone available to wave the remaining runners around the Canal Turn fence, behind which the stricken horse lay.
Good man Ruby! @Ruby_Walsh helps out in directing the field after his early departure in the #GrandNational pic.twitter.com/Q1ur5uYBD7
— Channel 4 Racing (@Channel4Racing) April 11, 2015
Walsh leapt into the breach, responding to the protestations of those attendants by pointing to the bright pink silks he was wearing and insisting the advancing jockeys would be sure to see him. “He took up a brave position,” one official said afterwards, describing the moment that Walsh placed himself 50 yards in front of the Canal Turn with a chequered flag above his head, trying to direct 20 galloping horses to one side.
It worked, though the procedure is unlikely to be adopted by the British Horseracing Authority. The field flowed untroubled around the outer edge of the fence.
Better news was to come, when officials reported that Balthazar King had finally been persuaded to stand. He was treated on the track for at least an hour before being taken to a nearby equine hospital for further treatment. It appears likely that he has suffered broken ribs and it is not yet certain that he will survive but it appears there is reason for hope.
The other 38 runners returned without significant injury, as did all the jockeys. Davy Condon attended hospital after his fall from Portrait King but was reported to have suffered nothing worse than concussion.
