Five possible changes to make Aintree safer Fewer runners For might lessen chances of being brought down or the bunching that caused five horses (four unseated) to exit at the Canal Turn. Might slow the pace. AgainstThe visual spectacle of 40 sets of colours is an important part of the race's character and attraction. The race is over-subscribed and 40 is nothing compared to 66 in 1929. The field was down to 20 when According To Pete fell and Synchronised might have fallen at Becher's in a two horse race. Verdict Leave alone Shorten the run to the first fence For It has unquestionably worked for the Foxhunters and Topham, where the first fence is 100 yards from the start, meaning that thee horses have not reached top speed before they jump it. Against There was only one faller there this year, with the recently reduced drop on thelanding side. Getting over the first is a fundamental part of the National test and you might find that the field becomes too bunched. No drop fences For There probably would be fewer cases of horses over-jumping and over-pitching on landing. Against The drops on the landing side of the fences are what make the Grand National and other races round that course a unique challenge to both horse and rider. The vast majority of horses are quick to adapt to them. There are no drops on the landing sides of the fences at Cheltenham, but you still get plenty of fallers there. Verdict Leave alone. Remove the drop at Becher's For You would imagine there would be fewer fallers at what is the biggest drop on the course but, again, there are no guarantees. Against It is already a much safer obstacle than it was. If you are going to change that let's have the world mountaineering championships in Norfolk and make the Olympic three-day-event a dressage-only competition. Soften the ground by watering For Many people said the 2001 National should not have been run as the going was so heavy, but no horses were injured. If you fall you have a softer landing. Against It makes it more stamina testing - in 2001 only four horses completed. And jumping from heavy ground undoubtedly makes the fences higher. Heavy watering would discriminate against good or fast ground horses and even with modern equipment watering produces inconsistent ground which can be very damaging to horses. Overall verdict The course went through a lot of changes last year. One running is not a scientific sample and, by any measure, there was a certain amount of bad luck involved with this year's fatalities. Give it a few more years before diving in to make changes again. As this year's race may have shown, if you get them all over the first six fences, you might start causing bottle necks at the Canal Turn. Emasculate it any further and it will not be the National as we know it.