Sea change rules Cracker out of Welsh National

James Motherway has been forced to rule Bluesea Cracker out of Saturday’s rearranged Coral Welsh National at Chepstow.

Last season’s Irish Grand National winner had been third-favourite with the sponsors at 9-1 following a decent run behind Midnight Chase at Cheltenham in November. However, the nine-year-old mare knocked herself when walking in the sea near Motherway’s Cloyne, County Cork yard last week and the injury has not settled down in time for her to take her chance.

“Unfortunately last Thursday morning she was having a little bit of exercise on the beach nearby and she just took a false step in the water and knocked into her front joint,” said Motherway.