Grand National: Gold Present withdrawn as Aintree line-up named

By Frank Keogh

BBC Sport

Aintree racecourse — Runners will race for more than four miles in the Grand National

Randox Health Grand National
Venue: Aintree Meeting: 12-14 April Grand National: 17:15 BST Saturday
Coverage: BBC Radio 5 live, sports extra and the BBC Sport website More details

Gold Present was the only withdrawal as a field of 40 runners was named for the Grand National at Aintree on Saturday.

Trainer Nicky Henderson has decided not to run his horse, who was around a 25-1 chance for the famous race.

It means Road To Riches is the last contender to make the cut.

There are four reserves - Thunder And Roses, Delusionofgrandeur, Walk In The Mill and Vintage Clouds - in case any horses are pulled out before 13:00 BST on Friday.

The bookmakers' favourites for the race, at about 10-1, are Total Recall, Anibale Fly, Blaklion and Tiger Roll.

Baie Des Isles, the mount of jockey Katie Walsh for her trainer husband Ross O'Sullivan, has been well backed this week from odds of 33-1 to 16-1.

Walsh, who finished third on Seabass in 2012, is seeking to become the first female jockey to win the race in the 171st running.

She is one of three women riding in the National, alongside Bryony Frost on Milansbar and Rachael Blackmore, with Alpha Des Obeaux.

The National is a handicap chase, with each runner allotted a different weight to carry by the official handicapper Phil Smith.

Minella Rocco, with 11st 10lb, will bid to become the first top weight to win since the legendary Red Rum in 1974.

Grand National odds
10-1 Total Recall, Anibale Fly, Blaklion, Tiger Roll
16-1 Seeyouatmidnight, Baie Des Iles, The Last Samuri
20-1 Ucello Conti, Minella Rocco 25-1 Bar
(Approximate prices as of 10:00 BST, Thursday 12 April)

Disney seeks fairytale win

The three-day National meeting starts on Thursday with former soldier Guy Disney set to become the first amputee jockey to ride over the big fences.

The 35-year-old former army captain will ride Gallery Exhibition, trained by Kim Bailey, in the Foxhunters Chase.

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Guy Disney: Former soldier's journey from war to riding winners

Last year Disney became the first amputee jockey to win at a professional racecourse in Britain, guiding Rathlin Rose to victory in the Royal Artillery Gold Cup at Sandown.

He repeated the feat on the same horse this year.

Disney rides with a prosthetic lower right leg after the vehicle in which he was travelling while on service in Afghanistan was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade in July 2009.

Gallery Exhibition is around a 20-1 chance, with Balnaslow, Grand Vision and Wonderful Charm among the favourites.

Earlier on Thursday, the Nicky Henderson-trained King George VI Chase winner Might Bite returns in the Betway Bowl after finishing second to Native River in last month's Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Opponents include Bristol De Mai, for Nigel Twiston-Davies, and last year's winner Tea For Two, again ridden by Lizzie Kelly.

Supasundae, trained by Jessica Harrington, heads runners in the Aintree Hurdle, with veterans My Tent Or Yours and The New One among the rivals.