GRAND NATIONAL day punters have suffered disaster after a mass of horses were pulled from Aintree.
At the time of writing some 19 horses have been taken out of their respective races - with two huge Nicky Henderson favourites among those withdrawn.
Legendary trainer Henderson already had punters fuming when switching Lulamba from the Grade 1 2m Juvenile Hurdle on Thursday - a move many branded a 'disgrace'.
GRAND NATIONAL 2025 LIVE RESULTS: Templegate’s 1-2-3-4 tip, full runners list and odds for Aintree showpiece
Those who followed him into today's 2m4f Mersey Novices' Hurdle were hurt again as the odds-on fav was declared a non-runner, one of three in the race.
While his other top horse Jeriko Du Reponet, who had been favourite for the opening handicap hurdle, was also pulled.
Gordon Elliott pulled huge Liverpool Hurdle favourite Teahupoo out after he was a brave second in his Stayers' Hurdle defence last month.
Meanwhile, amateur jockey David Maxwell's El Cairos, who was favourite for the concluding bumper, was another non-runner.
He was one of five pulled from the final race, which is due off at 5.35pm, just over an hour-and-a-half after the world's most famous race.
All 34 runners for the Grand National itself remain in the contest, although there was confusion over whether or not Paul Nicholls' Stay Away Fay had been pulled.
The former Albert Bartlett winner remained in the betting markets but word of a possible NR spread on social media.
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With the sun beating down on the Merseyside track and temperatures in the high teens, the ground will be drying all the time.
Officials have been watering the famous course in anticipation of the £1million race.
But it's clear a number of trainers think the ground remains too good to risk their horses on.
A select few will relish the underfoot conditions, among them Hewick and Hyland in the Grand National.
Hyland will bid to end Henderson's 40-odd year wait for a win in the National.
And victory there would go some way to making him forget the disaster that was Constitution Hill falling AGAIN in Thursday's Aintree Hurdle.
The former Champion Hurdler crashed out two from home as Willie Mullins' Lossiemouth stormed to victory.
While Gold Cup-winning trainer Gavin Cromwell reckons his well-backed Perceval Legallois will love the ground too.
The Irish trainer, who also runs punter favourites Vanillier and Stumptown, the horse linked to a £27million crystal meth bust, said: "Perceval Legallois comes into the race fresh after the Dublin Racing Festival.
"He’s really well, in great form, he looks great – we’re really happy with him. He goes well fresh so the longer layoff will have suited him.
"I don’t see any problems with him being able to see out the trip, especially on nice ground.
"Actually, I think he’ll appreciate the better ground the most of our three. He should be well able to travel on that ground."
These are the current non-runners:
1.20pm William Hill Top Price Guarantee Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap)
1 Maximilian (GER) (Going)
2 Jeriko du Reponet (FR) (Going)
9 Bo Zenith (FR) (Going)
16 Nurse Susan (FR) (Going)
22 Navajo Indy (Self Cert, Bruised Foot)
1.55pm Turners Mersey Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1)
2 Fingle Bridge (IRE) (Self Cert, Going)
10 Moon Phases (IRE) (Going)
12 Lulamba (FR) (Going)
2.30pm William Hill Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap)
4 Myretown (IRE) (Self Cert, Not Eaten Up)
7 Peaky Boy (IRE) (Self Cert, Not Eaten Up)
10 Doctor Ken (FR) (Self Cert, Going)
12 Heltenham (FR) (Going)
3.05pm Ivy Liverpool Hurdle (Grade 1)
3 Dashel Drasher (Going)
5.35pm Weatherbys nhstallions.co.uk Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race (Grade 2) 2m 209y
1 Blofeld (IRE) (Going)
2 Camberwell (IRE) (Going)
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5 Edward Sexton (IRE) (Going)
6 El Cairos (FR) (Going)
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