Controversy over Grand National start before defending champ Corach Rambler spectacularly unseats at the first

THE Grand National had drama from the word go as heavily-fancied Corach Rambler unseated at the first fence.

That was only after a suspicious standing start, where all the horses seemed to be on the move.

New rules meant the National was meant to begin with all the horses standing at the tape, but that didn’t appear to be the case.

That did nothing to take away from the spectacle, though those who backed Corach Rambler would have been cursing their luck.

Last year’s winner went off 15-2 with eventual winner I Am Maximus the 7-1 joint alongside Limerick Lace, but Derek Fox would get no further than the first.

Corach Rambler smashed through the first, landed on all fours and flung Fox out of the saddle – leaving those with fancy ante-post prices in tears.

It was a very nasty unseat for Fox, who bumped heads with his horse before crashing to the floor.

There were a wall of horses in with a chance heading to the final fence, where Minella Indo forged on under Rachael Blackmore.

The race looked at their mercy, but Paul Townend and I Am Maximus came from seemingly nowhere to pick his pocket.

28-1 shot Minella Indo eventually wilted, losing second to plucky Delta Work, who stuck on well at.

Reacting to the flag drop, one punter said: “that wasn’t a standing start.”

While another said: “What happened to the standing start then?”

Plenty went onto social media to vent about Corach Rambler too, with one saying: “Corach Rambler had a howler.”

Another said: “Can’t believe it, so unfortunate for Corach Rambler.

One more added: “Really don’t think Corach Rambler wanted to run that National… unshipped Derek Fox at the first then fell again at the second.”

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