Grand National

[Shaggy]

**** it - wanted to mention this but not worth a thread of its own and there's no racing thread. So let's have a Grand National thread in the sport section instead of banishing it to the Gamblers thread.

Anyway, this fall yesterday. I've watched racing a long time - since 1994 - and I've never seen anything like this. They say the jockey was 'unseated'. What the ****? He appears to just try and get off. Winning the race, approaching the last fence, and he just gets off? Corrupt as **** surely?! But no-one seems to be saying anything about it. I appreciate the horse looks to have had a bit of a wobble as it approaches the fence......but WTF? What the **** is he doing?

[ame="https://youtu.be/cELYu5bpgRk"]Wincanton 01-04-15 - Ferguson Fall - Racing UK - YouTube[/ame]

[Red_Polo]

Does look a bit off but the initial movement doesn't look intentional, I wonder if he knew he was coming off and just tried to get out before the fence?

[calvoboy]

Looking at it again and again it seems to me that the horse swerved left, he shifted his balance to the right to counteract it, and just as he did that the horse darted back right towards the fence throwing him completely off balance. There's no way he'd have jumped off there deliberately as he was always going to hit the fence at that speed - if he was going to throw the race then slip one foot out and "fall" off on landing would have been easier.

Anyway, as it's the national thread, Balthazar King for me - goes well fresh and skipped Cheltenham this year to focus on the National. Has jumped round twice already, runner up last year. Might just find one or two too fast again, but will be up there at the end.

[Shaggy]

Yeah feasible explanations, both.

It looks absolutely mad on the face of it.

I fancy Balthazar King too. Ran very wide all the way round last year so if he can find a way to shorten the circuit he has every chance.

[calvoboy]

Aargh...this thread has sent me looking at the card again. The more I look at it the more I like Saint Are as an EW bet too. 33/1 yet fits all the stats you'd want (won over 3m+, right age, right weight, has won a big handicap before, won at Aintree before, jumped the fences before, etc.). Seems to be bang in form this season too...

[baitman]

Looking at it again and again it seems to me that the horse swerved left, he shifted his balance to the right to counteract it, and just as he did that the horse darted back right towards the fence throwing him completely off balance. There's no way he'd have jumped off there deliberately as he was always going to hit the fence at that speed - if he was going to throw the race then slip one foot out and "fall" off on landing would have been easier.

its like when you see a bike rider get high sided, the momentum whips them up and off.