Editor - Surely one of the most heart breaking photos in the national press last week was of a horse in the third race of the Grand National 2023, that had had a horrific fall, pictured with both hind legs collapsed on the ground behind it, as he helplessly tried in vain to get up.

Two other horses also lost their lives at this “Festival”, another suffered a fractured eye socket while running loose, another was operated on for a tendon injury.

The death toll at the Aintree Festival has now reached 61 horses since the year 2000, with 15 in the Grand National.

A trainer this week commented “we mind them like babies” – of course they do, “they” bring in fame and fortune.

I suggest that it is the RSPCA with the strength of the law behind it, who should continue to work with the racing industry to deal with this obvious unacceptable animal cruelty, rather than the animal “activists”.

Meryl Harrison, Porlock