It was a full-on family weekend away, but before heading out to enjoy some live music, courtesy of tribute act Oasisish, we had a few hours to kill so a Grand National sweepstake was organised and just my luck I drew two 80/1 shots and one at 100/1.

With such a motley selection of outsiders I wasn’t confident any would be cheered across the winning line to deliver me a fortune, but I couldn’t possibly have foreseen just how unlucky I was about to be.

When all three tumbled at the first fence I was left cursing my bad luck but disappointment soon turned to complete dismay as Hill Sixteen failed to rise and had to be put down.

Perhaps predictably the 2023 Randox Grand National was finally won by the 8/1 favourite and my horses weren’t the only ones to take a tumble.

Tension did mount ahead of the race as protestors broke onto the course and tried to chain themselves to fences and railings but whether the trainer of the dead horse was right to blame them for his death is open to question.

They certainly made a right mess of the meeting and didn’t appear to achieve anything productive, but the average number of horses to die in this race isn’t far off one a year – the unfortunately aptly named Hill Sixteen was the 16th horse to die in The National this century.

In the end only 17 of the 39 starters crossed the line but apparently this is about average for this historic race. And, as a youngster I do remember a fair bit of carnage when the fences were even larger and more forbidding.

Now, I’m no expert on safety for horses, or jockeys for that matter (although I believe only one rider has died in 175 runnings) so I don’t think I’m well placed to advise on safety measures for Aintree.

But the protestors, whether you agree with their tactics or not, did highlight the issue of equine safety. Sensibilities in society are shifting fast, and whilst people love traditions, well-meaning would-be reformers will seek change.

Sadly I suspect there will have to be further modifications made by the Jockey Club, or in a decade or so’s time, it might not have a sport left to administer.

But what can it do, short of removing the fences altogether and reducing the field to 30 runners?

Trainer Sandy Thomson blamed ‘ignorant’ protestors for the fatal fall as he claims the 15 minute delay they caused led to his horse becoming ‘hyper’ and falling for the first time in his career.

Other views have been expressed in more measured tones but nevertheless pressure on the organisers will continue and, in the current climate, I seriously fear for the future of this great race.