Final yr’s winner Nick Rockett has been withdrawn from this weekend’s Grand Nationwide at Aintree.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 making an attempt to develop into simply the second back-to-back winner since Crimson Rum was a triple champion within the Nineteen Seventies.
When the 2026 subject was introduced on Wednesday, Patrick had opted to experience final yr’s third-placed horse Grangeclare West as a substitute, with Tom Bellamy surprisingly selecting up the experience 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 subject, however he’s not taking on the choice as a result of he was lame on Thursday.
Imperial Saint, skilled by Philip Hobbs & Johnson White, will now be the ultimate runner.
I Am Maximus is the 7-1 favorite for the race, however should develop into the primary prime weight to win the race since Crimson Rum in 1974.
He might be ridden by Paul Townend for the third yr in a row – one among eight Mullins-trained horses now within the subject – as he seems to be to develop into 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 yr’s race, when Mullins horses claimed the primary three positions.
The Grand Nationwide begins at 16:00 BST on Saturday.
