IT is, of course, very sad that two horses were killed in Saturday’s Grand National.

And it is inevitable that the deaths of Dooney’s Gate and Ornais have led to renewed calls for an outright ban on the world’s most famous steeplechase.

The protests from animal rights campaigners should be seen as positive pressure because it is right that the safety of racehorses – and their jockeys – is subject to continual review.

It is because of that pressure that the Grand National has been modified over the years to make the Aintree fences less dangerous.

That said, it is also important to be realistic. There are always calls to ban the Grand National after equine tragedies, but we all know that the race will continue to be run.

The Grand National is established as one of the great spectacles of sport – a great British institution – and it will carry on.

Accidents are inevitable, and horses are killed at races other than the Grand National as well as on the training gallops.

Where would the line be drawn if the Grand National was consigned to history?

That is not to say that the voices of the protestors should be drowned out.

They should continue to be heard so that lessons continue to be learnt.

The challenge is to find the right balance between safety and retaining the appeal of the Grand National as a special test of horse and rider.