National review

Yesterday's National was a proper race - stupid statement I know but it was run at a fast gallop and produced a deserving winner in Minella Times under a superb ride by Rachael Blackmore. She was in the perfect position throughout and timed her winning move from 4 out just right. Remarkably the trainer, Henry de Bromhead, is now third in the British jump trainers championship with 8 winners from just 36 runners.

I did warn readers about my tipping prowess in the big race but at least we had a bit of excitement with 2 of the 4.

The disappointments were Mister Malarkey, accurately described as a s**t or bust horse. It was obvious from the first fence that it was not a going day for him, and he pulled up shortly after halfway. Surprisingly I was not the only one that fancied him, as he was backed in from 33/1 to a SP of 12/1.

Yale Enki was going ok from the start to Beechers first time but gradually started falling back before being unsighted by a faller in front of him at the 20th, where Bryony Frost crashed (literally) off. She was taken to hospital and looks lucky to have 'only' got concussion.

Jett at 100/1 gave us a real run (probably too much with hindsight) for our money, well clear for much of the way and only headed at the second last. I suspect that if Robert Waley Cohen had held onto him a bit more he may have finished placed as despite his exertions he did not completely drop away ending up a respectable 8th.

Blaklion made some eye-catching headway from the 17th and was close up up 2 out but did not quite stay the trip. He was the first British trained horse home in 6th, and won £22,500 for his owner Darren Yates (making a small dent in the £300k he paid to buy him). Still an impressive training performance by Dan Skelton to get the horse back to his best age 12.

It was a brilliant spectacle, and just a shame for Rachael Blackmore that crowds were not there to cheer an achievement bought about by a combination of talent and hard work.