Racing:Mouse Morris has ruled out a crack at the John Smith's Grand National with War Of Attrition after the Irish trainer was thoroughly dissatisfied with the 11-year-old's allotted weight of 11st 1lb in the Aintree feature. He will now skip the April 10th contest.
The 11-year-old, winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2006, is set to retire at the end of the year despite undergoing a renaissance over hurdles this term with his most recent win coming in a Grade Two at Navan last Sunday.
Morris had hoped to take in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at Cheltenham before going on to the National but he was very disappointed with the handicapper’s assessment of his horse.
“I think with that weight they are basically saying they don’t want us to run,” said Morris. “If (joint top-weight) Albertas Run is rated 164 and we are getting 9lb, that means he’s rating us 155.
“I entered our horse in a handicap chase at Sandown the other week and they rated him 149, so I don’t know how they’ve come up with 11st 1lb to be honest.
“We’ve decided we’re not going to go as we won’t be going where we’re not wanted and I don’t know how he can justify that weight.
“The plan now would be to go straight to the World Hurdle and he’ll then probably have his last run at the Punchestown Festival in the Guinness Gold Cup or the big staying hurdle race.”
Albertas Run, Madison Du Berlais and Notre Pere share joint top weight (11st 10lb) after the weights were revealed for the most famous steeplechase of them all at today’s race launch in London.
Antepost favourite Tricky Trickster, winner of Saturday’s AON Chase at Newbury, has been allotted 11st 4lb, the same weight as the Newbury runner-up Niche Market, winner of last season’s Irish Grand National.
Three former winners are also declared, including Mon Mome - last year’s shock 100/1 champion - who is the highest weight at 11st 7lb. He carried 11st to victory in 2009, from which the first six home are all entered again.
Comply Or Die, who won in 2008 off 10st 9lb, has been allotted 11st 5lb this year, 1lb less than he carried when finishing second to Mon Mome last time. Silver Birch, who carried 10st 6lb to victory in 2007, has been given 10st 5lb.
Silver Birch’s trainer Gordon Elliott has aimed Backstage at the Aintree showpiece all season and the eight-year-old has been allotted 11st. Jimmy Mangan, successful in the 2003 with Monty’s Pass, is represented by Thyestes Handicap Chase winner Whinstone Boy (10st 4lb) and the 11-year-old Conna Castle (10st 9lb).
Champion trainer Paul Nicholls has five entries as he bids to win the blue riband race for the first time. As well as Tricky Trickster, they include Big Fella Thanks (10st 12lb), who finished sixth under 11st 1lb last year, and recent Grade Two Argento Chase winner Taranis (11st 9lb).
Other leading contenders include Welsh National winner Dream Alliance (11st 3lb), the Dessie Hughes-trained Black Apalachi (11st 6lb) and Possol (11st 3lb), who has been kept over hurdles so far this season.
Julian Thick, Managing Director of Aintree Racecourse, commented: “It is unprecedented to have 87 per cent of the field in the handicap for the John Smith’s Grand National and it is fantastic that such a high-class field will line up on Saturday, April 10th in what will be the most valuable Jump race ever run in Britain with £925,000 (€1.06 million) in prize money.”