BBC News 3rd April 1993 Grand National declared void

Dinner marks 25th anniversary of Grand National success

A dinner to mark the 25th anniversary of a jockey's "epic ride" to win the Grand National is being staged later.
The event in Cardigan, Ceredigion, will celebrate Hywel Davies's win on 50-1 outsider Last Suspect in 1985.
Mr Davies, who is originally from the town, will be joined by former champion jockey Peter Scudamore and ex-world powerboat champion Jonathan Jones.
The dinner is one of a series of events planned to mark Cardigan's 900th anniversary this year.
The boxing dinner, along with plans to show the Grand National race from 1985 on a big screen, will be held at the town's newly revamped Guildhall.
Mr Davies's win on Last Suspect at Aintree was not celebrated in all quarters in the town, with bookmakers believed to have lost hundreds of pounds.
He got his blood up the day of the national and just went
Hywel Davies speaking about Last Suspect
Among the guests at the dinner will be Mr Davies's friend, the eight-time champion jockey Peter Scudamore, whose horse Corbiere was third behind Last Suspect in 1985.
Four-time world powerboat champion Jonathan Jones, who is an old school friend of Mr Davies's from Cardigan, will also be attending, along with Neale Doughty, who won the national on Hallo Dandy in 1984.
Mr Davies, 52, who now runs a horse feed business in Lambourn, Berkshire, said: "People in Cardigan were great after I won the National, and it's a great honour for me that this event is tied in with the 900th anniversary of the town.
"It's great my old school friend Jonathan Jones, a four-time world powerboat champion from Cardigan, is going to be there, along with another of my friends, eight-time champion jockey Peter Scudamore."
Mr Davies said he could still remember the race in a great detail.
Last Suspect was the longest priced winner of the Aintree showpiece for nearly two decades.
But it took his jockey to persuade owner, the Duchess of Westminster, to let the 11-year-old run on the day, after he pulled up in his previous outing.
Mr Davies added: "He was a very classy horse. He had a lot of ability and he was a gentleman, but if he wasn't in the mood then he wouldn't go.

Represented in Cabinet to Four Lawmakers

The announcement of a new Cabinet lineup Thursday marks a major turning point for President Lee Myung bak and the governing Grand National Party (GNP) in their try to spur economic recuperation and promote social integration, analysts say.One of the key characteristics of the new Cabinet is that it has become younger, reflecting Lee's push for political and economic reform. Of the seven ministers assign, including former Seoul National University president Chung Un chan, named the next Prime Minister, five are in their 40s and 50s. The average age of ministers will fall to 59 from the current 62.4 if all the nominations are sanctioned by the National Assembly.The comprehension of three GNP lawmakers Choi Kyung hwan, Yim Tah hee and Joo Ho young also came as a surprise.Recently, Lee has only one lawmaker turned minister Health, Welfare and Family Affairs Minister Jeon Jae hee."The GNP has requested more opportunities for lawmakers to come into the Cabinet as most presidential staff and ministers have little experience in politics," a GNP spokesman said. "The current reshuffle reflects these concerns and indicates Cheong Wa Dae will strengthen communication with the governing party in setting up a future course of action."Lee's choice of Rep. Choi, connected with former GNP Chairwoman Rep. Park Geun hye, also advise that he will reflect opinions from diverse political factions in managing state affairs. Some GNP officials said the decision means that Lee has offered an olive branch to Rep. Park to address physical conflicts ahead of the by elections next month."Considering Park's influence on her GNP colleagues, it will be almost impossible for the governing party to win the elections and overcome future political challenges," the spokesman said.Cheong Wa Dae officials said the reshuffle is also aimed at addressing regional and ideological divisions.Premier nominee Chung, a veteran economist, will interchange Han Seung soo to become the second prime minister since Lee's inauguration in February last year.Chung's appointment was largely unexpected as he had been touted as a potential candidate of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) for the next presidential race."Chung is the best choice for prime minister as he has rested neutral over ideological and regional conflicts," a presidential spokesman said. "We believe he will realise President Lee's goals of overcoming the economic crisis, stabilising the livelihood of common people and resolving political and ideological divisions."In his autobiography, published in 2007, Chung said he was a realist, adding he was neither a pro government person nor conservative. He picked Deng Xiao Ping as a perfect example of a leader for a country.

Grand National Course and Fences

The Grand National is the ultimate test of horse and jockey. The race comprises two full circuits of a unique 2¼ mile (3,600 metres) course, where challengers will face 30 of the most testing fences in the world of jump racing.

Each of the 16 fences on the course are jumped twice, with the exception of The Chair and the Water Jump, which are jumped on the first circuit only.

The Start

There is a hazard to overcome even before the race starts - the build up, parade and re-girthing prior to the off lasts for around 25 minutes, over double the time it takes for any other race.

With 40 starters, riders naturally want a good sight of the first fence and after the long build-up their nerves are stretched to breaking point, which means the stewards' pre-race warning to go steady is often totally ignored.

Becher's Brook: Although the fence looks innocuous from the take-off side, the steep drop on the landing side, together with a left-hand turn on landing, combine to make this the most thrilling and famous fence in the horse racing world. The fence actually measures 6 ft 9 in on the landing side, a drop of 2 ft from take off.

Becher's Brook earned its name when a top jockey, Captain Martin Becher, took shelter in the brook after being unseated. "Water tastes disgusting without the benefits of whisky" he reflected.

The Chair: The final two jumps of the first circuit form the only pair negotiated just once - and they could not be more different. The Chair is both the tallest (5ft 3in) and broadest fence on the course, with a 6ft wide ditch on the take-off side.

Water Jump: This 2ft 9in fence brings the first circuit to an end and the sight of the runners jumping it at speed presents a terrific spectacle in front of the grandstands.

The Finish

The 494-yard long run in from the final fence to the finish is the longest in the country and has an acute elbow halfway up it that further drains the then almost empty stamina reserves of both horse and jockey.

For numerous riders over the years, this elongated run-in has proved mental and physical agony when the winning post seems to be retreating with every weary stride.

Don't count your money until the post is reached as with the rest of the Grand National course, the run-in can - and usually does - change fortunes.