Findon rider Philip Hide, riding Brave Highlander, claims he was denied a place in the Martell Grand National at Aintree by a loose horse and lack of help when stuck in a ditch.

He said: "Brave Highlander was going nicely into the race as we set out on the second circuit.

"There were only five or six in front of me and I was really hopeful of being placed. But going to the big open ditch before Beechers, a loose horse ran across us and we ended up in the ditch.

"The only way out is through a gate at the end.

"I asked politely to be let out, but no one took any notice, and even when I got cross and began shouting, people just stood there and did nothing.

"When I did finally get let out it was far too late to continue in the race. But if I had got going straight away I would have been way ahead of Papillon and Blowing Wind who finished third and fourth."

His was one of many hard luck stories in a race that produced just four finishers from 40 starters.

But Hide believed the conditions were raceable.

He said: "There was nothing wrong with the ground and for me it was actually what I was looking for, because it cut the speed of the faster horses.

"We've raced on far worse going at Fontwell and Plumpton."