05 Apr 2016 12:03
Fergal O'Brien has resigned himself to the likelihood his Grand National regular Alvarado will miss out on a place in the Crabbie's-sponsored showpiece at Aintree on Saturday.
Alvarado has finished fourth for the last two years and his campaign has been geared around a third crack at the world's greatest steeplechase.
However, only a maximum of 40 horses can run and the 11-year-old is number 48 on the list.
"I've looked at those on 10st 2lb with him and he's at the bottom of that list. He's very unlikely to get a run. I thought he only had four to come out, but he's got more now," said the Naunton trainer.
"It's life, I'm afraid. It's like complaining about the weather. It's one of those things, there's nothing we can do about it. We've done all we can. He's done all his preparation and had a racecourse gallop last week.
"It's all on ratings now. I felt at the time Mr (Phil) Smith (the British Horseracing Authority head of handicapping) gave him every chance by putting him up a few pounds.
"It just wasn't enough this time. That's the way it goes. You have to roll with it."
Should Alvarado not make the cut, O'Brien will aim him at the Coral Scottish Grand National at Ayr on April 16.
"We'll move on and hopefully go to Ayr," he said.
"He's in good old form in himself. The last two years it's always been touch and go as well. We move on."
In the new order of elimination, Kerry Lee's Bishops Road needs just one horse to come out as he is number 41 thanks to his victory in the Betfred Grand National at Haydock in February, after the weights for the National were announced.
Dr Richard Newland's Pineau De Re, the Grand National hero two years ago, is number 46, while the well-fancied Causes Of Causes, trained by Gordon Elliott, is 49.
Rebecca Curtis has confirmed jockey bookings for her two runners, with Brian Hughes aboard O'Faolains Boy and Trevor Whelan on The Romford Pele.
O'Faolains Boy, winner of the 2014 RSA Chase, was seventh in last month's Cheltenham Gold Cup. The Romford Pele was eighth over hurdles in the Coral Cup and is the last horse guaranteed a run in the Grand National as the 40th on the list.
Curtis said: "Brian Hughes will ride O'Faolains Boy and Trevor Whelan will ride The Romford Pele. I think Brian has a good record round Aintree and he's a straightforward horse. I'm delighted to have Brian riding him.
"The other horse gets in with a nice, low weight and I think the race should suit him. He'll definitely stay and he has a touch of class."
Jockeys' agent Bruce Jeffrey said on Twitter his client James Reveley has been booked to ride the David Pipe-trained Vieux Lion Rouge.
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