Grand National Festival day one shock as big market favourite and defending champ not declared for iconic race

THERE was a shock in the day one Grand National Festival declarations – with a defending champion and big market favourite missing from an iconic race.

Famous Clermont was a brilliant winner of the Foxhunters’ Open Hunters’ Chase last year for trainer Chris Barber.

The Times

Famous Clermont, right, won the iconic Foxhunters easily last year but has not been declared for this year’s race[/caption]

Shaken up after the last, he pulled clear from 16-1 runner-up Bennys King to win easily at 9-2 under amateur rider Will Biddick.

Famous Clermont had been backed into 4-1 favourite for this year’s race, which is run over the Grand National fences.

But his name was not among the 22 runners declared for the 4.05pm contest on Thursday.

Instead it’s Spyglass Hill who’s heading the betting at 7-2 with Time Leader the 4-1 second-favourite.

Willie Mullins is represented with 11-year-old veteran Annamix at 5-1 while JP McManus’ Cheltenham Festival runner-up Its On The Line is the same price.

The Foxhunters is one of the big races on the first day of the three-day meeting.

The highlight is of course the Grand National itself at 4pm on Saturday.

But there is a whole host of top action to get stuck into before then.

Among them are a number of races on day one including a blockbuster British rematch between Turners Novices’ Chase 1-2 Grey Dawning and Ginny’s Destiny.

They are trained by Dan Skelton and Paul Nicholls respectively, with the two battling it out at the head of the trainers’ championship.

Mullins has also declared Il Etait Temps in the opening Grade 1.

While Nicky Henderson will hope to be back with a bang after a disastrous Festival with Sir Gino in the Juvenile Hurdle.

He takes on the likes of Kargese and Sir Alex Ferguson’s Kalif Du Berlais.

While the Aintree Bowl has plenty of star appeal.

Gold Cup runner-up Gerri Colombe heads the market for trainer Gordon Elliott.

While Hendo also saddles Shishkin, with former King George hero Bravemansgame in the mix along with National Hunt Chase winner Corbetts Cross.

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