Best National Outcome For Racing The Aintree Grand National retains enough of a lottery element to encourage followers of each of the 40 runners this Saturday that they can win. From a more altruistic point of view though one outcome would surely be the greatest result for racing generally. It's surely only a matter of time before the winner of racing's most high-profile event is ridden by a woman. But sooner's better than later and now would be perfect. It's dispiriting in many ways that such a result would represent so momentous a landmark. But it's disingenuous to pretend otherwise. The impact of a woman winning the most famous challenge in racing would reverberate far beyond the sport and catapult the victor to stardom. It's impact might also beneficially be felt much closer to home. At the moment it looks like at least three women will line up on Saturday. Katie Walsh finished closer than any woman when third on Seabass in 2012 and is set to ride Baies Des Iles. Bryony Frost is due to team up with Milansbar. And Rachael Blackmore will be on board the Gigginstown runner, Alpha Des Obeaux. Once before have three women ridden in the race, in 1988. Any hopes that would prove a watershed moment in terms of greater opportunities for female jockeys generally proved largely unfounded. Since 2005 only Walsh and her sister-in-law, Nina Carberry, have ridden in the National that still counts most. That's the context in which the exceptional abilities and achievements of Walsh, Blackmore and Frost can be placed. Should one of them win the National it will be the most public and specific stamp of their exceptional talents as jockeys. Not female jockeys - just jockeys. However it's inevitable from a media point of view that such a victory will get presented through a gender prism. No one ever got on board the media beast in pursuit of originality. But such a presentation could also strike a telling and resounding blow against the deep-rooted prejudices that still exist among some owners and trainers in relation to female jockeys generally. Every jockey, regardless of their sex, needs opportunity. But women still find it harder to get those opportunities. When they're presented results and performances often speak for themselves. But you don't have to scratch too far below the surface to find the old chestnut about 'strength' still cropping up. It's a vicious circle. Strength in the saddle often has little to do with physical power. Rather it's to do with fitness. Except the only real way to develop that fitness is through race-riding. And if a jockeys has to labour against the tired old 'strength' cliché how does anyone get the chance to develop that fitness. There is an instinctive reaction here against French racing's initiative to encourage more female riders by providing them with an allowance. But the stats indicate it is achieving its purpose in trying to even up the gap between the sexes in terms of opportunity. A similar system isn't being considered here. So what better or more timely reminder that talent, courage, ambition and competitive drive are blind to gender than one of the women riding in Saturday's race emerging victorious. It could reverberate around the world. More importantly it could reverberate throughout the racing world. Jockeys breaking the whip rules is also blind to gender. What's blind to logic is failure to properly acknowledge the link between the rules being broken and the value of the prize being fought over. As for any suggestion the whip is now a padded irrelevance it begs the question as to why then it is used most when needs must. Last week's Irish National saw JJ Slevin on the winner banned for seven days for his use of the whip and Danny Mullins on the runner up suspended for three days. Last month Richard Johnson won the Gold Cup and got seven days. Does anyone really believe both Johnson and Slevin wouldn't swap such penalties to the power of whatever you like in return for such career defining victories? Does anyone doubt any jockey worth their salt won't do exactly the same if they think they're in with a chance of winning the Grand National this Saturday? The whip rules are illogical. But they maintain an illusion of doing something. If you want to read more on the whip issue then the following link might interest you: There is no way to make hitting an animal look attractive If you find the issue too wearying and predictable then you're a good judge. You're an even better judge if definitively able to call the outcome of the jump trainer's championship. Gordon Elliott (€4,605,926) has a lead of over €550,000 on Willie Mullins (€4,055,125) and is a 1-2 favourite to do this season what he threatened to do for so long last term by winning a first trainer's crown. But you can see why Mullins has been backed to 6-4 to pull off another late, late show at Punchestown. He had almost €400,000 to make up last year and ultimately won by just shy of €200,000. Mullins made nearly a million in just five days and that was without everything going perfectly for him. So it's by no means a done deal yet. Leopardstown's late cancellation last Wednesday provoked quite a bit of comment, mostly in relation to those disappointed at missing out on the scheduled Student Race-day. No inspection had been planned but track officials were forced to announce one on Wednesday morning due to greater than forecast levels of overnight rain. Suggestions that the term 'precautionary inspection ' was created for such situations smacked a little of after-timing. What all of it really reinforced was how some weather modern forecasting is still little more than digitised meteorological Juju. It was noticeable though how student disappointment seemed mostly confined to spoiled social plans and futile travel arrangements rather than any let down at having no racing to watch. There were even queries as whether or not everyone could still turn up at the track and go on the razzle - just without any horses. And finally, since it is the National - One For Arthur last year was the first Aintree hero trained in Scotland since Rubstic in 1979. So, a bit like buses, maybe it will be a case of Seeyouatmidnight.
