The Front Page: has the Grand National really lost its essence?

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The Grand National has changed enormously in recent years. Does it now need to change again?

That is the big question asked in this week's edition of The Front Page, in which Chris Cook and Jonathan Harding join Lee Mottershead to discuss complaints from a number of British trainers that the sport's most famous race has lost its essence. 

Should there be a cap on the number of runners a single trainer can have? Would the Grand National be better with win-and-you're-in races? And do people really care who trains the runners or in what country they are trained?

After looking forward to Aintree, the team looks back at the Cheltenham Festival, this focusing on last week's announcement that some ticket prices are to be cut, alongside a rebranding of the meeting's second day.

To wrap up the programme, we reflect on the Racing Post's Racing and the Economy series, debate the mini-revolt which occurred when some of Britain's trainers met in London and, after all that, we even tell you who the panel fancies for the National on April 5.

• The Front Page: watch this week's episode

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