not be called home by Peter O'Sullevan, as 'the voice of racing' had retired the previous year. Jim McGrath took over the anchor role with Tony O'Hehir covering the field from the fence before Becher's to Valentine's as his father Michael had done from 1967 to 1969. John Hanmer became the senior member of the team, covering the runners over the early fences and coming back towards the racecourse for the 27th consecutive year. BBC Radio covered the race for the 67th time with Peter Bromley calling the winner home. The race was also televised live into bookmakers' outlets by Racing UK using the racecourse commentary team, consisting of Graham Goode, Ian Bartlett and John Hunt. Goode called the runners home, while all of the national daily newspapers published full colour pullouts with racecard-style guides to the runners. After the bomb scare of 1997, security was tighter at the 1998 National than at any meeting before or since while only a limited number of vehicles with a special permit were allowed inside the racecourse. Security concerns were increased when a bomb was discovered in the Irish port of Dún Laoghaire a few days before the race, though police stated that there were no indications that the bomb was destined for Aintree. The deaths of three equine competitors meant the race drew much media attention and public criticism and questions were raised over the safety of the race, however it was later found that only one of the three deaths, that of Pashto at the first fence, was as a direct result of a fall at a fence. The vet reported that Do Rightly suffered a heart attack on takeoff at the fourth fence while Griffins Bar suffered a broken shoulder while galloping and not while jumping a fence. The Jockey Club launched an enquiry into the three deaths with questions raised as to the suitability of all three runners to compete in the National. Over the course of the years ahead the qualification standards for horses to take part were tightened. Quotes Carl Llewellyn (1st): "[Graham Bradley] told me after three out it had to be one of us. And it was me. I'm a bit of a jammy git - Tom Jenks should have ridden him." Graham Bradley (2nd): "He gave me a great ride. His ears are like antennae - he tells me when he wants to be