Bravemansgame will not be permitted to run in Thursday’s Alder Hey Aintree Bowl Chase.

The Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up had been cleared by the British Horseracing Authority to contest the Grade 1 chase, with the eight-year-old switched into the sole ownership of Bryan Drew on Tuesday, having previously been owned in partnership with John Dance.

Dance founded Vertem Asset Management, a prominent sponsor within racing, but that firm is one of three trading names of WealthTek LLP, which was last week ordered to cease trading by the Financial Conduct Authority due to “serious regulatory and operational issues coming to light”.

However, the BHA has announced the Paul Nicholls-trained King George winner will no longer be able to run after an intervention from the FCA.

A statement read: “In light of new information, including a court order, provided to the BHA on Wednesday 12 April by the Financial Conduct Authority Bravemansgame is no longer able to take part in the race and has been withdrawn.

“The BHA will continue to liaise with the FCA and other affected parties.”

Prior to his withdrawal, Bravemansgame was the 3/1 joint-favourite for the Aintree race, along with Shishkin.

Now Shishkin is the 2/1 favourite, followed by A Plus Tard (5/2), Ahoy Senor (11/4) and Conflated (6/1). Ga Law (28/1) is the only other runner.

Aintree’s three-day Grand National meeting is set to start on predominantly good to soft ground.

Following a wet day on Monday when over 10 millimetres of rain fell, Tuesday was much drier but it was rainy and windy on Wednesday.

The ground is reported to be good to soft on the hurdle and chase tracks, while conditions are described as good to soft, soft in places on the National course itself, with further rain anticipated.

Clerk of the course Sulekha Varma said: “Officially we’ve had about three millimetres of rain according to the rain gauge, though due to the high winds I think realistically that may have been distorted and we’ve probably had more – it’s certainly walking that way.

“I’m expecting further rain tonight, possibly another 4-6mm, but we’ll see. We’re expecting sunny spells and scattered showers on Thursday and 1-2mm and similar again on Friday, except for heavier showers and up to 5mm.”

Constitution Hill is the star turn in Thursday’s William Hill Aintree Hurdle.

Varma added: “We’re absolutely delighted with the quality of the races on Thursday, they are out of this world really, fantastic. And Friday looks pretty good as well, we’re very pleased.

“To attract horses like Constitution Hill and a race like the Bowl, it is what this Festival is about really. It’s what everyone has been pushing towards all these years, so it is great to be rewarded.

“That extra week between Cheltenham and now has helped. Very early on the trainers cottoned on and were planning for it. Because they had that extra week, it just takes the pressure off them a little bit I think.”