Rolling Stones’ guitarist Ronnie Wood won’t have his first runner in the Randox Health Grand National at Aintree on Saturday after Sandymount Duke was ruled out of the race.
The Jessica Harrington-trained 10-year-old was set to give the rock star a first runner at Aintree Racecourse . But following the cancellation of the Stones’ No Filter Tour in America due to health issues suffered by singer Mick Jagger it is another blow for the veteran guitarist.
Wood’s long-time friend and trainer Harrington confirmed on Tuesday morning that Sandymount Duke will not making the trip across the Irish Sea.
He had been a 100-1 chance for the National, but will not now line-up.
Harrington said: “He’s given himself a knock and unfortunately he won’t be running at Aintree .
“It’s disappointing for us and Ronnie, but what will be will be.”
Harrington will, though, saddle her first-ever runner in the Grand National with eight-year-old mare Magic Of Light set to line-up.
Harrington added: “She is an intended runner and is in great form.”
The sneaky entrance to Aintree racecourse where you can avoid the queuesWhile Harrington will only have one entry, fellow Irish handler Gordon Elliott is on course to have a remarkable 13 runners – a record for one trainer, beating Martin Pipe’s 10 in 2001 – in his bid for a third in in the race.
He confirmed riding plans for all 13 of his intended runners.
Big-race favourite Tiger Roll – who is a very short 7-2 market leader with most bookmakers – will again be partnered by Davy Russell as he looks to become the first horse since the legendary triple hero Red Rum in 1973-74 to win back-to-back Grand Nationals.
On riding plans for all his other contenders, Elliott told herald.ie: “Davy Russell rides Tiger Roll, Keith Donoghue rides Outlander and Paddy Mullins is on Don Poli.
“Jamie Codd rides Mala Beach, Dounikos is Jack Kennedy, Denis O’Regan rides A Toi Phil - and Noble Endeavor is Mark Enright.
“Sean Bowen will ride Monbeg Notorious, Andrew Ring is on Blow By Blow, JJ Slevin rides General Principle, Robbie Power is on Jury Duty, Luke Dempsey on Folsom Blue and Robbie Dunne is on Bless The Wings.”
On Tiger Roll’s bid to become only the eighth dual winner in Grand National history, the County Meath trainer – who also laned the Aintree showpiece with Silver Birch in 2007 – added: “I couldn’t be happier with them and I’m looking forward to running them all and hopefully we’ll get a bit of luck.
“They are in good order, and obviously our main chance is with Tiger Roll again.
“I don’t know if he can do it again – everybody that has ever watched the Grand National knows that you need a lot of luck in the race - but I do know I couldn’t be happier with the horse since (his win in the Glenfarclas Chase at) Cheltenham.”
Elliott is hopeful his other runners in the race may also run well.
He said: “They’re all in good form – Jury Duty was very good (on his last run) in Down Royal, so he is going there in good order.
“Mala Beach needed rain – but it looks as if they’ll get a bit before Saturday.
“We discussed jockeys with Michael and Eddie O’Leary (of principal owners Gigginstown House Stud), because obviously they have a lot of runners in the race, and Patrick’s (Mullins) name came up - so we were happy to go with that.
Meanwhile the need to water the courses at Aintree lessened after 10 millimetres of rain overnight on Monday going into Tuesday.
The going changed this morning to: Grand National Course - Good to Soft, Soft in places Canal Side (from Good, Good to Soft in places) Mildmay Course - Good to Soft (from Good) Hurdle Course - Good to Soft (from Good).
Take a look back at how racegoers have dressed at the Grand National over the years
Andrew Tulloch, clerk of the course at Aintree, reported: "We had 10 millimetres of rain overnight, which cleared around 8am.
"The forecast from now on indicates mostly dry weather, but with occasional showers.
"The ground was definitely drying up yesterday and we had changed the going description to good. We needed and wanted the overnight rain. "We will see how each day goes from now on. The rain has lessened the need for watering, but I would be surprised if we get right through the meeting without having to put a bit more water on."
