Owner: I'll never race again at National

The owner of a horse that died after falling at the Grand National's most famous fence on Saturday has vowed never to enter the race again.

The race was again marred by controversy at the weekend after both Synchronised, the Gold Cup winner, and According to Pete fell at Becher's Brook and were later put down.

According to Pete was brought down as he jumped the fence for the second time. "If he had won, I would have paraded him down the street," said the owner, Peter Nelson, of Helperby, North Yorkshire. "But now, I will never enter the race again. I know I've had a bad experience. There are 40 horses running and any of them could be brought down at any time." The race was won by Neptune Collonges, and just 15 of the 40-horse field reached the finishing post. The RSPCA described the deaths as "totally unacceptable" and called for an "urgent examination" of the incidents.

The fatalities are likely to lead to a review of fences such as Becher's Brook which feature a deeper drop than approach. The fence is the most famous in racing, and has an approach of 4ft 10in but a drop on the other side of between 5ft 2in and 5ft 8in.