Loughran steps in for Venturi mount

Roger Loughran will take the plum spare ride on Vic Venturi in the John Smith’s Grand National after Paddy Flood suffered a broken collarbone.

Flood’s mount Schindlers Hunt fell at the third fence in the Melling Chase, fracturing his near foreleg and having to be put down.

Vic Venturi’s trainer Dessie Hughes said: “We had a couple of options to consider but we’re going with Roger Loughran.”

Following one fatality on the first afternoon, there were two others in the Topham Chase – Plaisir D’Estruval and Prudent Honour, who both fell at the 13th fence, Valentines Brook.

Clerk of the course Andrew Tulloch plans to water the ground after two drying days.

“I’ll be watering the Mildmay and Hurdle courses and we will water the 13th and 14th fences after the Melling Road crossing on the Grand National course,” he said.

“We’re racing on a fresh strip of ground anyway so this is really just to maintain conditions.”