THERE will be a number of changes to the start of this year’s John Smith’s Grand National following a review by the British Horseracing Authority.

A Grand National review group was set up to look into any changes that could be made following last year’s delayed start.

A regulatory commi-ttee of the BHA met on Monday and approved some key recommen-dations earmarked by the group. These included moving the marker-poles 20 yards behind the starting tape.

A sand line will be laid on the ground between the marker-poles, giving the jockeys a definitive line that must not be crossed before the race has started. There will also be increased penalties for disobeying the starter, who will rotate between the senior starter and his deputy each year.

The review group was independently chaired by Robert Waley-Cohen and included Aintree clerk of the course Andrew Tulloch, trainers Jonjo O’Neill and Ferdy Murphy, and senior jockeys Tony McCoy, Mick Fitzgerald and Tony Dobbin.

Waley-Cohen said: “The group found that the delay in last year’s Grand National was not the fault of the senior starter. The delay was due to a variety of other factors and the group has therefore recommended a number of changes to the procedures to ensure such delays do not happen again.

“Moving the marker-poles back a consider-able distance, and marking a line on the ground – along with a number of other relat-ively minor changes – will hopefully allow the race to start with the minimum of fuss.”

Meanwhile jockey Graham Lee faces a spell on the sidelines after sustaining a double fracture to his jaw when his mount, Cash King, fell in the Betfredpoker Novices’ Chase at Huntingdon yesterday.

An early diagnosis revealed he had fractured his jaw in two places and he was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge for further analysis.