Horseracing: Going softens at Aintree

Heavy rain has caused ground conditions to change at Aintree and led to mass withdrawals on the second day of the Martell Grand National meeting.

A morning downpour turned the going to soft and an hour before racing no fewer than 27 horses had been taken out of the afternoon's races.

Likely favourite Edredon Bleu was removed from the Grade One Martell Melling Chase, with jockey Tony McCoy switching to Lady Cricket.

Six of the 30 runners were taken out of the John Hughes Chase, over a circuit of the National course, and five were pulled out of the opening Heidsieck Diamant Bleu Novices' Handicap Chase.

But worst hit was the Martell Mersey Novices' Hurdle in which there were seven scratchings, leaving just six to battle for a £50,000 purse.