Grand National contender A Genie In Abottle found dead in his stable after mystery illness strikes
Noel Meade's chaser had been a 50-1 shot for the Aintree showpiece, but his death is a mystery with Meade revealing that they did not know he had a serious problem having just been under the weather for the a few days.
NOEL MEADE's A Genie In Abottle was found dead in his stable just days before he was due to run in the Randox Health Grand National.
The seven-year-old's death is still a mystery to connections with Meade telling the Racing Post he just "hadn't been quite himself over the past few days".
A Genie In Abottle was owned by Gigginstown House Stud and had been around 50-1 for the National.
"We've no idea what happened. He was okay in the morning and dead in his box at lunchtime. It's just one of those things," said the Gigginstown's spokesman, Eddie O'Leary.
Gigginstown are still set to be well represented in the Aintree showpiece.
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"Hopefully Tiger Roll will run and Alpha Des Obeaux. Thunder And Roses might run because he fell at the seventh in Fairyhouse and so had no race," O'Leary told the Irish Times.
"Valseur Lido may run too, and Road To Riches. Hopefully the place (Aintree) might help him find his mojo."
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O'Leary also mooted the possibility of Rachael Blackmore joining Katie Walsh (Baie Des Iles) and Bryony Frost (Milansbar) in the National.
"There's nothing definite but Rachael is unbelievably good and we'd love to have her ride something in the race," said O'Leary.