Racing: Lane and Welburn miss out

One-time favourite Moor Lane has failed to make the cut by two for Saturday’s Martell Grand National at today’s final 48-hour declaration stage.

Ian Balding’s 10-year-old is one of four reserves for the £500,000 (€814,000) Aintree showpiece, along with Browjoshy, Dark Stranger and Amberleigh House.

Nicky Henderson’s Marlborough, fourth in the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup last time, heads the field of 40 runners in the expected absence of the Willie Mullins-trained Florida Pearl.

Mullins is represented by Irish Hennessy winner Alexander Banquet.

Paul Nicholls’ Ad Hoc and Martin Pipe’s Blowing Wind, who have been vying for favouritism over the last couple of weeks, stand their ground, with champion jockey Tony McCoy confirmed on board Pipe’s runner, third last year.

Another notable absentee is Caroline Bailey’s Gunner Welburn, the intended mount of Tony Dobbin, who misses out by one and runs today in the Martell Fox Hunters’ rather than take up the option of being a reserve.