Manchester United fans do not need reminding how the 2011-12 campaign ended, but those searching for encouragement in the home straight this season should take a look at how the table stood at this
That run-in included a Manchester derby – the definition of a six-pointer. For this year’s slim chance to keep dreaming United have to thank Mason Greenwood and Edinson Cavani, whose goals on 83 and 90 minutes sealed a late win.
Ole Gunnar Solskjær said: “It is probably unrealistic [to catch City] but stranger things have happened in football. We just have to do our job. We’ve always said this year has to be progress and improvement, we’ve got as many points as last season [at the end] and if we get more we’ve got more: that’s progress. We want to finish with a trophy in the Europa League, we’ve got loads of games and loads to focus on.”
What are some of the famous fences?
The Aintree fences are not quite as perilous as they were once upon a time after a series of alterations. However, they are still the most notorious obstacles in the business and enough to make the palms of any jockey sweat.
Becher s Brook: The sixth and 22nd fence in the race may not be the biggest, but it s difficulty comes from the fact the landing side is 10 inches lower than the take off side. Named after Captain Martin Becher, a jockey who fell at this stage and hid in the brook to avoid injury.
IF Cheltenham racecourse gave us “the Greatest Show”, then this afternoon Aintree racecourse will bring us “the Greatest Race”, the Grand National. The first official winner of the National was the aptly named Lottery in 1839, trained by George Dockeray, and ridden by Jem Mason. Just before the race started at 3pm, hot money came in for four horses, Lottery, The Nun, Rust, and Daxon. Lottery was first across the line, The Nun was fifth, Rust pulled up, and Daxon fell. The race was famous for one other event when a horse called Conrad fell at the 22nd fence and threw his rider, Captain Martin Becher, into a brook where the captain took shelter to avoid injury. Hence the sixth and 22nd fence is now called Becher’s Brook.
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