The Jonjo O’Neill-trained Minella Rocco, the general 9/1 favourite for the Randox Health Grand National will not run in the race.
A winner at the 2016 Cheltenham Festival, the seven-year-old was a fast-finishing two and three-quarter length second to Sizing John in the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup at Cheltenham last week, staying on well up the hill at Prestbury Park in the extended three and a quarter-mile contest.
However, the J P McManus-owned gelding will not head to Aintree next month for the extended four and a quarter-mile contest with O’Neill already thinking of next year’s Gold Cup with the horse.
Lightly raced, Minella Rocco stayed on well in the Gold Cup with stable companion More Of That also running a good race, finishing sixth. The 2014 Stayers’ Hurdle winner is set to take his chance in the Grand National after O’Neill confirmed him for the race.
Jackdaws Castle handler O’Neill also added that Shutthefrontdoor would also miss the race and instead head for the Irish Grand National which is also run next month.
Twitter: More Of That came out of the Gold Cup well and will now head to Aintree for the National. (@JonjoONeill)
Twitter: Minella Rocco has been taken out of the Grand National this morning. He’s absolutely fine and we’ll aim him at the Gold Cup again next year. (@JonjoONeill)
