One Knight misses Welsh National

Ante-post favourite One Knight is not among the 17 declared for the Coral Welsh National at Chepstow on Tuesday.

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.