National dream over for War Of Attrition

Mouse Morris has ruled out a crack at the John Smith’s Grand National with War Of Attrition.

The Irish trainer was thoroughly dissatisfied with his the 11-year-old’s allotted weight of 11st 1lb in the Aintree feature and he will now skip the April 10 contest.

The 11-year-old, winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2006, is set to retire at the end of the year despite undergoing a renaissance over hurdles this term.

Morris had hoped to take in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at Cheltenham before going on to the National but he was very disappointed with the handicapper’s assessment of his horse.

“I think with that weight they are basically saying they don’t want us to run,” he said.

“If (joint top-weight) Albertas Run is rated 164 and we are getting 9lb, that means he’s rating us 155.

“I entered our horse in a handicap chase at Sandown the other week and they rated him 149, so I don’t know how they’ve come up with 11st 1lb to be honest.

“We’ve decided we’re not going to go as we won’t be going where we’re not wanted and I don’t know how he can justify that weight.

“The plan now would be to go straight to the World Hurdle and he’ll then probably have his last run at the Punchestown Festival in the Guinness Gold Cup or the big staying hurdle race.”