It’s the same every year. In the days leading up to the Grand National – one of the best-known and most anticipated sporting events of the year – we have to listen to righteous killjoys calling for the abolition of horse racing.

This year has been no different. Ahead of the 176th Grand National this weekend, someone called Ben Newman, from campaign group Animal Rising, appeared on Sky News on Monday to call for an end to horse racing. He said we should ‘re-wild’ the thousands of thoroughbred horses we have in the UK.

For those genuinely concerned about animal welfare, releasing race horses out into the wild doesn’t seem like a great idea. They would surely fare far better as it stands – being cared for and looked after in stables – than they would if left to roam the countryside.

But those who spend their time railing against the Grand National aren’t really concerned about the horses. They just seem to have a problem with people enjoying themselves at the races.