RACING GRAND NATIONAL:WAR OF Attrition has been ruled out of Saturday's John Smith's Grand National at Aintree.
The 10-year-old was as low as 12 to 1 with Ladbrokes and had been the subject of a gamble for the four-and-a-half-mile marathon.
However, trainer Mouse Morris has decided not to run him as he is not totally satisfied with the gelding and he will now rely on Hear The Echo.
“We weren’t 100 per cent happy with War Of Attrition this morning and we’ve decided against sending him to Aintree,” he said. “Hear The Echo is 110 per cent and he will be our runner in the National.”
Davy Russell was due to ride War Of Attrition but will now take over on his stablemate.
War Of Attrition was set to shoulder 11st 9lb in the National with the Donald McCain-trained Cloudy Lane due to carry top weight of 11st 10lb.
Should he win, it would be the best weight-carrying performance since the Aintree legend Red Rum’s record third success in 1977. Red Rum, trained by McCain’s father Ginger, had even won the race with 12st in 1974 when he was nine, the same age as Cloudy Lane.
McCain, however, had been prepared for Cloudy Lane to head the handicap with the expected withdrawals of Snoopy Loopy and Nozic. “I knew it was happening so we just have to get on with it,” said the Cholmondeley trainer.
“There’s nothing we can do and the horse is very well. He had a racecourse spin the other day at Bangor after racing and he was grand. He and Idle Talk went round and did it really well.”
Cloudy Lane was sixth to Comply Or Die last year when 7 to 1 joint favourite with the eventual winner. He is currently a 33 to 1 chance this time.
Idle Talk is at the bottom end of the handicap on 10st 5lb and McCain is hopeful of his chances. Like Cloudy Lane, he got round last year but was only 14th of the 15 finishers. “This has been the plan all year for him and . . . I think he goes there with a good each-way chance.”
Champion trainer Paul Nicholls has yet to saddle a National winner, but looks to have probably his best chance to date with a four-strong team – My Will, Eurotrek, Big Fella Thanks and Cornish Sett.
Ante-post favourite My Will is the choice of jockey Ruby Walsh, who is already a two-time winner with Papillon (2000) and Hedgehunter (2005).
“I’ve had a fair few sleepless nights over this one but I’ve finally decided to go with My Will,” said Walsh.
“Last week I was trying to pick my way through seven possible rides because, at the National, so much depends on the weather and the going.
“I’ve been watching the weather forecast closely and it looks like it’s going to be pretty good. So I’ve gone for My Will.”
Following the news, Ladbrokes cut My Will to 7 to 1 from 8 to 1.
Comply Or Die is also looking to match a Red Rum record, with David Pipe’s runner attempting to become the first horse since Red Rum (1973 and 1974) to land back-to-back victories.
The going on the National course is described as good, good to soft in places.
Other fancied contenders include last year’s National third Snowy Morning, Becher victor Black Apalachi, 2006 Hennessy scorer State Of Play and 2007 National hero Silver Birch.
