Seabass ruled out of National
Trained by Ted Walsh and ridden by his daughter, Katie, Seabass was third at Aintree in 2012 and went off the 11-2 favourite under last year only to finish 13th.
However, the 11-year-old finished last in his warm-up in the Daily Mirror Chase, after which he was found to have sustained ligament damage.
Pat Glynn, of owners the Gunners Syndicate, said: “He’ll be out of action for at least six months and maybe eight (months).
“We were looking forward to him at Aintree again as he was coming back to form.
“He suffered ligament damage mid-way through the race. We thought he wasn’t 100 per cent, and when he got home he was very lame. He had a scan this morning and they found ligament damage.
“He’s had tendon trouble before and made a full recovery. If he’s OK we might put him back into training, but we’re not sure about that.
“He’d been working very well at home and we had big hopes for him. He’s been a very good servant for us.”
Tidal Bay remains the top weight of the 73 horses still engaged on April 5 after 27 came out at the latest forfeit stage.
Paul Nicholls believes it is “highly likely” Sam Twiston-Davies will partner Tidal Bay at Aintree on April 5.
Those to have been taken out include several others owned by Graham Wylie such as last week’s controversial Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up On His Own and the somewhat disappointing Boston Bob.
Others to have been scratched include Kauto Stone, Cantlow, Carlingford Lough, Cape Tribulation, Mon Parrain and Pandorama.
Only 40 horses can start, with four reserves. Currently sitting right at the bottom of those guaranteed a run is the David Pipe-trained The Package, who ran in the 2010 renewal and was an eyecatching third at Cheltenham last week.
The four reserves are currently Raz De Maree, Rose Of The Moon, Shakalakaboomboom and Alvarado.
Meanwhile, Morning Assembly will return to the scene of his finest hour for the Growise Champion Novice Chase at the Punchestown Festival.
Pat Fahy’s stable star was a Grade One winner over hurdles at the meeting last year and has twice been placed at the highest level over fences this term.
He lost little in defeat when third in the RSA Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last week and Fahy is hoping the ground will be a little slower at Punchestown.
“It was maybe just a touch too quick for him,” said Fahy.
“Maybe if they’d gone quicker early in the race, he might have been like Lord Windermere in the Gold Cup, a bit outpaced, but then they would have come back to him at the end.
“Time will tell, if the ground was slower they might not have got away from him at the finish. His jumping was spot-on, though.
“We’ll stick to the novice route this year, he won’t go for the Irish National.
“He got light coming home so I need to build him back up now and get him ready for Punchestown.”
Fahy believes the return to a right-handed track could help Western Boy close the gap on those who finished in front of him at Cheltenham if they meet again at Punchestown.
Western Boy claimed a creditable seventh, beaten just over 10 lengths, by Vautour in the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, but jumped markedly out to his right at the last two flights.
The Evening Herald Champion Novice Hurdle on April 29 could see the pair meet again and Fahy is hopeful of his charge getting a bit closer at Punchestown.
“Jumping out to his right like he did can’t have helped,” said Fahy. “Having a rail on his inside, rather than his outside, will be a big help.
“The good thing about him is that he goes on any ground.
“Originally I thought he’d be a horse we could take to Galway on the Flat for the GPT, but at the moment we’ll stay over hurdles.
“They were breaking records on the first day last week and he was jumping right-handed and still not beaten far. He’s not slow and has plenty of pace.”
