Grand National winner set to miss cut

Pineau De Re, ridden by Leighton Aspell, won the National for trainer Dr Richard Newland

Crabbie’s Grand National 2016
Venue: Aintree Date: Saturday, 9 April, 17:15 GMT
BBC coverage: Commentary and updates on Radio 5 live; live text commentary, pinstickers’ guide, sweepstake kit on BBC Sport website

The 2014 winner Pineau De Re needs six late withdrawals to make the cut for Saturday’s Grand National at Aintree.

A final order of elimination for the £1m race, which has a maximum of 40 runners, was announced on Tuesday.

Lower-rated horses are balloted out, with The Romford Pele currently occupying the number 40 slot.

As it stands Bishops Road (41), Knock House, Perfect Candidate and Maggio (44) will be the four reserves for the race, with Pineau De Re at 46.

In danger of missing the cut
41: Bishops Road, winner of the Grand National Trial at Haydock in February	46: Pineau De Re – Winner of the Grand National two years ago
47: Highland Lodge, winner of the Becher Chase – Aintree’s trial over the National fences	48: Alvarado, fourth in the National in 2014 and 2015

Pineau De Re was 43rd on the list before revised ratings were applied on Tuesday.

Others in danger of missing out are Becher Chase winner Highland Lodge (47), Alvarado (48) – who has twice finished fourth in the National – and Cheltenham Festival winner Cause Of Causes (49), who was rated about 16-1 joint fifth favourite for the race .

“It’s life, I’m afraid. It’s like complaining about the weather. It’s one of those things, there’s nothing we can do about it,” said Alvarado’s trainer Fergal O’Brien.

Pineau De Re – currently listed at number 43 – won the National two years ago under jockey Leighton Aspell, who also triumphed last year with Many Clouds for trainer Oliver Sherwood.

Latest odds
8-1 Many Clouds; 10-1 The Last Samuri; 12-1 Silviniaco Conti; 14-1 Holywell
16-1 The Druids Nephew, Saint Are, Cause Of Causes; 20-1 Shutthefrontdoor, Gooonyella; 25-1 Bar
(Approximate prices as of 11:30 BST, Tuesday 4 April)

Pineau De Re is now in the twilight of his career at 13 – no horse of that age has won the National since Sergeant Murphy in 1923.

Many Clouds is 8-1 favourite to become the first horse since Red Rum in the 1970s to win consecutive runnings, and victory would make Aspell the first rider to triumph three years on the trot.

Other leading contenders include the two-time King George VI Chase winner Silviniaco Conti, for champion trainer Paul Nicholls.

Nine horses were withdrawn on Monday: Carlingford Lough, Third Intention, Roi Du Mee, Turban, Living Next Door, Spring Heeled, Katkeau, Golden Chieftain, Godsmejudge.

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Grand National winner set to miss cut
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