Final 12 months’s winner Nick Rockett has been withdrawn from this weekend’s Grand Nationwide at Aintree.
Nick Rockett – skilled by Willie Mullins and ridden by his son Patrick – completed two-and-a-half lengths away from 2024 winner I Am Maximus 12 months in the past, however has been declared a non-runner having been reported to be coughing.
He was trying to turn out to be simply the second back-to-back winner since Crimson Rum was a triple champion within the Seventies.
When the 2026 area was introduced on Wednesday, Patrick had opted to journey final 12 months’s third-placed horse Grangeclare West as a substitute, with Tom Bellamy surprisingly selecting up the journey on Nick Rockett.
First reserve Pied Piper, who’s skilled by three-time winner Gordon Elliott, was given the spare place within the 34-runner area, however he’s not taking over the choice as a result of he was lame on Thursday.
Imperial Saint, skilled by Philip Hobbs & Johnson White, takes that spot, whereas Henry de Bromhead’s Amirite has turn out to be the final runner after Spillane’s Tower was withdrawn after operating in Thursday’s Aintree Bowl.
I Am Maximus is the 7-1 favorite for the race, however should turn out to be the primary high weight to win the race since Crimson Rum in 1974.
He will likely be ridden by Paul Townend for the third 12 months in a row – considered one of eight Mullins-trained horses now within the area – as he seems to turn out to be the primary coach to win the race in three successive years since Vincent O’Brien between 1953 and 1955.
Townend completed second to 33-1 likelihood Nick Rockett in final 12 months’s race, when Mullins horses claimed the primary three positions.
The Grand Nationwide begins at 16:00 BST on Saturday.
