Racing: Grand National should retain its element of risk

Balthazar King will attempt to add the Grand National trophy to his win in the cross-country chase at Cheltenham last month. Photo / AP

After the pressure cooker of Cheltenham, jump jockeys are looking forward to Aintree.

As always, the focus of next week's meeting will be the Crabbie's Grand National. It is the 167th running of the race, but the first worth 1 million.

While everyone wants to do what is right by the horse, I am convinced it is essential that the National remains just that - a challenge. There has to be an element of risk that adds a touch of luck to the occasion because hard-luck stories are as much a part of the race as the successes.

The race also needs to be different. That is why 10 million people watch it in Britain and around 100 million tune in around the world. They want to see something different. It must never become another Gold Cup and, to keep those elements, it is important that it does not become any less demanding.

Last year's race was the first run after a raft of modifications. These included a non-numerical parade, which saved the horses a few minutes with us on board, a start closer to the first fence to take us away from the cauldron of the stands and stop us getting up too much speed too early, and some alterations to the drops after the fences. It is a job to say how much effect any of these changes made when taken individually, although it has to be said all 40 of us got over the first fence, a rarity.

As a jockey by far the biggest change, however, was to the core of the fences. For my first 17 rides in the race these consisted of wooden stakes hammered into the ground. Last year they were replaced by a softer "plastic birch" on top of which was laid the traditional spruce. Outwardly they looked no different, but they are more forgiving and softer.

Although one year is hardly a good sample the fact that only two horses fell during the whole race seemed to be proof of this.

As we saw last year when Auroras Encore at 66-1 won, the race remains anything but predictable - and long may it be so.