A former British Olympian’s hopes of having a runner in Saturday’s Grand National have been dashed after his horse was ruled out by the National Fence Review Panel.
James Manclark, 85, who competed in the 1968 Winter Olympics, has always harboured the dream of having a National runner and bought Mr Incredible out of Willie Mullins’s yard last summer. The nine-year-old had run in two Nationals for Mullins, unseating at The Chair last year and Canal Turn a year earlier when his tack slipped but has yet to complete a race in a year.
But after refusing to race at Wetherby on Boxing Day and pulling himself up at Kelso recently, Mr Incredible was always going to be on the BHA’s radar and has now been ruled out of Saturday’s 34-runner line-up because of fears he may be a liability to other horses at the start.
Trainer Sandy Thomson, however, was not happy about the NFRP’s decision that the horse might be a liability to other horses at the start or the appeal process which has led him to accuse the BHA of ‘having it in for him’.
“They had it in for him,” he said. “You can’t have an appeal panel within the BHA - they would never disagree with the original decision. He was second in a Midlands National a year ago. People will see it both ways but the race is very sanitised and needs characters. At least they haven’t barred him from running - yet.
“It’s very hard to find a National horse which doesn’t cost silly money and we’d been looking for three years. Hopefully we’ll get him there next year.”
Manclark, who also drove the four-man bobsleigh and went out to Sapporo for the 1972 Winter Olympics, although did not compete when his breakman dropped out, said his Mr Incredible is entered for the Scottish National the following week and they hoped to run there instead.
The NFRP, which consists of an experienced group of ex-jockeys, vets, clerks of the course and stewards, ruled six horses out of last year’s National at various stages. If a trainer or owner agrees it is not the most sensible idea and accepts the invitation to withdraw they get their money back but not if it goes to an appeal.
That is heard by the BHA’s director of racing, the head of stewarding and the head of equine regulation, safety and welfare. All 34 runners will still have to undergo a mandatory veterinary check in the racecourse stables on the morning of the race before being allowed to run.
Regarding the decision the BHA said: “Each horse entered to take part in any race over the Grand National fences must undergo a range of checks regarding its suitability to run, such as pre-trace veterinary checks and consideration of their profile by the NFRP is a further layer of these checks designed to reduce all reasonably avoidable risk.”
Mr Incredible was one of six to come out at the five-day stage, one of four who would have got a run had they wanted. The others were L’Homme Presse, Capodanno, Velvet Elvis and Minella Drama, none of which were greatly fancied.
It means Monbeg Genius, Vanillier, Horantzau D’Airy and Hyland and Celebre D’Allen are all guaranteed a run as are Three Card Brag and Twig. If any more drop out between now and Thursday Duffle Coat will get in, otherwise he will be first reserve.
