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The annual event at Aintree forms the basis of a comprehensive computer game.

The small print on the cassette insert has to be read very carefully to appreciate all the finer points, since it covers a lot of the details of horse racing.

The first part involves you, as a jockey, making a selection of a horse to run in the National from horses trained at your stable. You also have the chance to bet - you start with £1000 - on your horse, and any other you fancy. You make your choices through a simplified form rating, a knowledge of the conditions, and the style of the horse.

Despite the realism of the game, betting is restricted to "on the nose" bets, but 100/0 betting tax is deducted from the bets you place.

Once you select your horse, the next stage commences; the race itself. This is meant to be of arcade standard. You have control of your horse, moving it left or right, using the whip, and deciding when to jump fences. Despite excellent graphics, movement is very slow, and the arcade enthusiast may fall asleep during this piece of inaction.

On the review copy, the horse failed to respond to the jump keypress, so fell at the first fence on every try! The reviewer makes the generous assumption that such a basic omission can't be present on copies available for sale. But, overall, players will need to be horse race enthusiasts to gain much pleasure from this game.

D.N.