Favourite One Knight to miss Welsh National
The Philip Hobbs-trained eight-year-old was propelled to the head of the market for the big race after a successful seasonal reappearance in the John Hughes Rehearsal Chase at the Welsh track earlier this month.
Another leading contender, Chives, stood his ground though, and the Sue Smith-trained eight-year-old will be partnered by Dominic Elsworth.
Ruby Walsh will be aboard Paul Nicholls’s Becher Chase winner Silver Birch, with the Ditcheat handler also responsible for Shotgun Willy and L’Aventure.
The latter was runner-up to One Knight on her last outing.
Last year’s winner and the 2002 Grand National victor Bindaree will make his seasonal debut under Carl Llewellyn, with other interesting contenders being Desailly, the hat-trick-seeking Strong Resolve and Be My Royal, who was first past the post in the 2002 Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup.
Martin Pipe will be represented by Jurancon II and Akarus.
Hobbs's wife Sarah explained the absence of One Knight.
“When he came in on Friday he had a twinge in his back. I’m not sure whether he did it galloping or out in the field,” she said.
“Mary Bromiley came out and treated him and he seems fine again now, but the race will just come a couple of days too soon.
“It’s a real shame, not least because we took Double Honour out of the race because we wanted to run One Knight. I don’t know what we have in mind for One Knight now, we were just really looking forward to Chepstow.”
: 9-2 Silver Birch, 5-1 Chives, 11-2 Akarus, L’Aventure, 7-1 Strong Resolve, 10-1 Bindaree, 14-1 Bar.
