Last year’s winner Nick Rockett has been withdrawn from this weekend’s Grand National at Aintree after falling ill with a cough, so he won’t race.
The horse, trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by his son Patrick, had beaten I Am Maximus last year but was aiming to win back-to-back titles — something not done since Red Rum in the 1970s.
Patrick Mullins had already chosen to ride Grangeclare West, while Tom Bellamy was set to ride Nick Rockett before the withdrawal. Now, reserve horse Pied Piper, trained by Gordon Elliott, takes his place.
I Am Maximus is the 7-1 favourite and will be ridden by Paul Townend, as Mullins looks to win the race for a third straight year.
The Grand National starts at 16:00 BST on Saturday.
