GRAND NATIONAL day punters have suffered disaster after a mass of horses were pulled from Aintree.
At the time of writing some 17 horses have been taken out of their races – with two huge Nicky Henderson favourites among those withdrawn.
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Henderson already had punters fuming when switching Lulamba from the Grade 1 2m Juvenile Hurdle on Thursday.
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GRAND NATIONAL 2025 LIVE RESULTS: Templegate’s 1-2-3-4 tip, full runners list and odds for Aintree showpiece
Those who followed him into today’s 2m4f Mersey Novices’ Hurdle were hurt again as the odds-on fav was declared a non-runner, one of three in the race.
While his other top horse Jeriko Du Reponet, who had been favourite for the opening handicap hurdle, was also pulled.
Meanwhile, amateur jockey David Maxwell’s El Cairos, who was favourite for the concluding bumper, was another non-runner.
All 34 runners for the Grand National itself remain in the race.
Though with the sun beating down on the Merseyside track and temperatures in the high teens, the ground will be drying all the time.
Officials have been watering the famous course in anticipation of the £1million race.
But it’s clear a number of trainers think the ground remains too good to risk their horses on.
A select few will relish the underfoot conditions, among them Hewick and Hyland in the Grand National.
Hyland will bid to end Henderson’s 40-odd year wait for a win in the National.
And victory there would go some way to making him forget the disaster that was Constitution Hill falling AGAIN in Thursday’s Aintree Hurdle.
The former Champion Hurdler crashed out two from home as Willie Mullins’ Lossiemouth stormed to victory.
These are the current non-runners:
1.20pm William Hill Top Price Guarantee Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap)
1 Maximilian (GER) (Going)
2 Jeriko du Reponet (FR) (Going)
9 Bo Zenith (FR) (Going)
16 Nurse Susan (FR) (Going)
22 Navajo Indy (Self Cert, Bruised Foot)
1.55pm Turners Mersey Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
2 Fingle Bridge (IRE) (Self Cert, Going)
10 Moon Phases (IRE) (Going)
12 Lulamba (FR) (Going)
2.30pm William Hill Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap)
4 Myretown (IRE) (Self Cert, Not Eaten Up)
7 Peaky Boy (IRE) (Self Cert, Not Eaten Up)
10 Doctor Ken (FR) (Self Cert, Going)
12 Heltenham (FR) (Going)
3.05pm Ivy Liverpool Hurdle (Grade 1)
3 Dashel Drasher (Going)
5.35pm Weatherbys nhstallions.co.uk Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race (Grade 2) 2m 209y
1 Blofeld (IRE) (Going)
2 Camberwell (IRE) (Going)
5 Edward Sexton (IRE) (Going)
6 El Cairos (FR) (Going)
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