AT least one horse is reported to be seriously injured as trainers

began to count the cost of the Aintree chaos. Travel Over's racing

career may be at an end after he twisted a tendon when he became tangled

up in the broken starting tape.

''The tapes became wrapped around his near-fore and tightened round

his leg,'' said his trainer, Richard Lee. ''It would feel to him like

someone was trying to restrain him and he must have panicked.

''It's a serious injury and it might be that he will not be able to

race again.'' But Lee and other trainers said they thought it unlikely

that their owners would want to seek compensation.

John Upson, trainer of Zeta's Lad, said: ''Several of my staff were in

tears at what happened. We've put a year's hard work into bringing this

horse to a peak for the race.

''What gets me is the attitude of so many of the people. If the

remaining nine had been allowed to take part as was suggested, I think

the crowd would have burned down Aintree.''

Last year's winner Party Politics, backed down to favourite on

Saturday, now will be aimed at the Irish National at Fairyhouse.

His trainer, Nick Gaselee, commented: ''This has removed his chance of

doing a Red Rum and winning twice in succession. But he could succeed

next year and we could claim he would have completed a hat trick of

National wins.