BLAKLION has been ruled out of the Randox Health Grand National after suffering a setback.
The 10-year-old was set to make his debut for trainer Phil Kirby and owners Darren and Annaley Yates at Aintree having been bought out of Nigel Twiston-Davies’ yard in February.
However, Kirby took him out of the extended four and a-quarter-mile feature on Friday morning and the 2017 Becher Chase winner may now be finished for the season.
He said: “He’s got a back joint problem and he won’t be running next week.
“I’m disappointed, the owners really wanted to have a National runner and we’ve done everything we can to get him there in one piece.
“It’s not something that will stop him forever, but most likely for this season.”