Big Grand National change as Paul Nicholls withdraws his last remaining runner… with hopes of British winner dwindling

9 months ago 73

PAUL NICHOLLS has withdrawn his last remaining runner from the Grand National – as hopes of a British winner continue to dwindle.

The Ditcheat boss has persuaded Threeunderthrufive’s owner Max McNeill to run the nine-year-old stayer in the Bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown on April 27 instead.

Nicholls, Britain’s champion jumps trainer, won’t have a runner in the Grand National[/caption]

Threeunderthrufive had been a 33-1 chance for victory in the £1million Aintree feature on Saturday, April 13.

But Nicholls, who had a 25-1 winner at Cheltenham Festival with Sir Alex Ferguson’s Monmiral, believes Sandown is a better fit.

It means market leader and defending Grand National hero Corach Rambler will lead the home charge in the National.

Lucinda Russell’s mount won the Ultima en route to victory last year and warmed up for his title defence with a third-place finish in the Gold Cup this time round.

He is a general 5-1 shot and guaranteed a spot in the 34-runner field, which lost top-weight Hewick last week.

The only other British horses guaranteed a run are 100-1 chances Eldorado Allen and Mac Tottie, 18-1 Latenightpass and Gary Moore’s Nassalam, a 34-length winner of the Welsh Grand National, at 33-1.

There is hope the home team could be strengthened as the race draws closer and more horses drop out.

Christian Williams’ Kitty’s Light has been backed into as short as 14-1 after finishing seventh in the Ultima and is proven over the trip.

Explaining the decision on Threeunderthrufive, McNeill told the Racing Post: “We’ve got to put the horse first and, when Paul said we’d win the bet365 off top weight, I told him that’s what we’ve got to do then.

“Paul has always been lukewarm about the National and it’s me who has been pushing it because I love the race.

“But I’ve got to listen to my trainer and that’s what we’re going to do.”

It means Irish horses dominate the field for the National.

Willie Mullins’ I Am Maximus and Gavin Cromwell’s Vanillier are both around 10-1 second-favourites.

While Martin Brassil’s Panda Boy is no bigger than 12-1.

Several changes have been made to this year’s race, the biggest being the number of runners slashed from 40 to 34.