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.
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