Albertas Run Out Of National

A lot of people were surprised when Albertas Run was given top weight in this years Grand National and although it wasn’t hugely excessive at 11-10 it may have contributed to the surprise decision made today to withdraw him from the big race on April 10th.

The Jonjo O’Neill trained nine year old ran an incredible race earlier this year at Cheltenham where he went on to win the Ryanair Chase under Tony McCoy at pre-race odds of 14/1.

Following that the odds were slashed across all of the bookies in anticipation of the Grand National but Mick Meagher, the owner’s racing manager, said: “Mr Hemmings and Jonjo discussed matters on Monday. Tuesday is the next forfeit stage and Albertas Run will be taken out of the National”.

He went on to say that “He came out of Cheltenham well and the chances are that he’ll run at Aintree, either in the Totesport Bowl on the Thursday or the John Smith’s Melling Chase the following day.”

The second forfeit stage for the withdrawal of horses from the Grand National is Tuesday 23rd March so an announcement on who still remains will be made on Wednesday 24th March.