Shropshire’s Grand National hopes appear to be over
Tuesday 5th April 2011, 12:21PM BST.
Shropshire’s hopes of a Grand National runner at Aintree on Saturday appear over.
Trainer Richard Lee, whose stables at Byton are on the south Shropshire border, had hoped to saddle Le Beau Bai in Saturday’s 4m 4f marathon.
But while yesterday’s five-day declaration stage led to a host of withdrawals, Lee’s charge remains 48th on the list off a weight of 10st 1lb.
With a maximum National field of 40, Le Beau Bai – who finished third in the 2009 Welsh National – requires the unlikely prospect of eight late withdrawals to make the field.
“I don’t see that many dropping out and I think we will miss out by about five,” said Lee.
“But we will leave him in and see what happens.”
Lee has had two previous National runners – Samuel Wilderspin fell at the fourth in 2002 while Travel Over was in the ‘National that never was’ following a false start in 1993.
“It will be disappointing if we don’t get in but he’s only eight and time is on his side,” added Lee.
“If not this year then we will try again next year.
“Le Beau Bai is in fine fettle and if we don’t get in the National, he will still probably go to Aintree for a handicap hurdle on Friday.”
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