Robert Cooper, Sky Sports Racing’s roving reporter gives his verdict on this year’s Grand National

Is the Grand National still the thrilling spectacle that makes us hold our collective breaths? As a youngster it was without doubt the race I looked forward more than any other, ten minutes and thirty fences combining nerve tingling tension and danger, and once in every other blue moon maybe I backed the winner, then completed three laps of the garden in jubilation. The National was a must watch TV event, not solely for the diehard racing fan but it was also a family occasion. Local swee...