AINTREE // The Grand National may have provided a thrilling finish that saw Neptune Collonges edge out Sunnyhillboy in the closest race in the history of the four-mile, four-furlong contest but the race was marred by the death of two horses.
After three thoroughbreds were put down at Meydan Racecourse on Dubai World Cup night last month racing once again finds itself in a difficult position.
Synchronised, a hero a month ago for winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup, suffered a fatal injury in his bid to become the first horse to complete the double in 78 years. According To Pete was another to sustain a lethal fall.
For John Hales, the winning owner, it was a victory tinged with sadness but embroidered by joy. Neptune Collonges helped to heal a 14-year-old emotional wound after the death of Hales’s dashing grey One Man, a horse that won 17 races for him but died in action at Aintree in 1998.
“You owe me Aintree,” Hales said, in floods of tears. “When he crossed the line I thought he might have got it. And then I thought, ‘thank you Aintree’ – you all know why.
“It split the family coming here. My wife was 50-50, my daughter couldn’t face it. She has gone show jumping and is overcome with emotion. We’ve nothing against Aintree. We love coming here and this year we’ve come up trumps.”
Haleshad stated before the race that he was set to retire Neptune Collonges after the Aintree marathon.
“I just wanted him to get round safely,” he said. “I never dreamed we would win it. I can’t believe it.”
It was a race that was never short of drama. Ruby Walsh, the Irish jockey, missed the ride aboard On His Own due to a horror fall on Zarkandar in a previous race. Tony McCoy, the 16-times champion jockey, was unshipped before the start by Synchronised.
Following two false starts there were only 23 runners left standing from 40 starters after 17 fences.
At the 28th obstacle it appeared that Katie Walsh, one of two female jockeys in the race, would make a successful bid to become the first woman to win as Seabass looked full of running. At the 30th and final fence, however, she was swamped to finish third as winning jockey Daryl Jacob denied by a nose Richie McLernon on the runner-up.
sports@thenational.ae
Defined benefit and defined contribution schemes explained
Defined Benefit Plan (DB)
A defined benefit plan is where the benefit is defined by a formula, typically length of service to and salary at date of leaving.
Defined Contribution Plan (DC)
A defined contribution plan is where the benefit depends on the amount of money put into the plan for an employee, and how much investment return is earned on those contributions.
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Top New Zealand cop on policing the virtual world
New Zealand police began closer scrutiny of social media and online communities after the attacks on two mosques in March, the country's top officer said.
The killing of 51 people in Christchurch and wounding of more than 40 others shocked the world. Brenton Tarrant, a suspected white supremacist, was accused of the killings. His trial is ongoing and he denies the charges.
Mike Bush, commissioner of New Zealand Police, said officers looked closely at how they monitored social media in the wake of the tragedy to see if lessons could be learned.
“We decided that it was fit for purpose but we need to deepen it in terms of community relationships, extending them not only with the traditional community but the virtual one as well," he told The National.
"We want to get ahead of attacks like we suffered in New Zealand so we have to challenge ourselves to be better."
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Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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Straightforward ways to reduce sugar in your family's diet
- Ban fruit juice and sodas
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Name: Almnssa
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