Bravemansgame out but Constitution Hill returns as Grand National meeting starts at Aintree

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Bravemansgame (right) was 2nd to Galopin Des Champs successful the Cheltenham Gold Cup past month

Date: Saturday, 15 April Venue: Aintree Racecourse Time: 17:15 BST
Coverage: Commentary connected BBC Radio 5 live; updates connected BBC Sport website & app

Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up Bravemansgame has been withdrawn from the Aintree Bowl connected the archetypal time of the Grand National meeting.

It follows an involution by the Financial Conduct Authority. Last week it ordered a steadfast founded by the racehorse's erstwhile associated proprietor John Dance to cease operations.

Meanwhile, unbeaten champion hurdler Constitution Hill is blistery favourite for the Aintree Hurdle connected Thursday, portion the line-up for Saturday's National volition beryllium confirmed from astir 10:00 BST.

Bravemansgame, trained by Paul Nicholls, was acceptable to vie nether the sole ownership of Bryan Drew aft Dance was removed arsenic associated proprietor connected Tuesday.

Dance founded Vertem Asset Management, 1 of 3 trading names for WealthTek LLP.

Last week the FCA said a 48-year-old man, who has not been named, was arrested by Northumbria Police aft "serious regulatory and operational issues" came to airy astatine WealthTek.

The British Horseracing Authority released a connection connected Wednesday evening which read: "In airy of caller information, including a tribunal order, provided to the BHA by the Financial Conduct Authority, Bravemansgame is nary longer capable to instrumentality portion successful the contention and has been withdrawn.

"The BHA volition proceed to liaise with the FCA and different affected parties."

Nicholls said it was "bitterly disappointing" Bravemansgame could not run.

"I'm evidently disappointed by the people of events that led up to america not being capable to tally him but that's retired of my hands and I can't truly accidental immoderate much than that," helium told Betfair.

Five runners volition present spell to station for the contention astatine 14:55 BST, including 3 who contested past month's Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Lucinda Russell saddles Gold Cup faller Ahoy Senor, who volition beryllium ridden by champion jockey Brian Hughes successful the lack of his injured regular spouse Derek Fox.

Gordon Elliott's Gold Cup 3rd Conflated and Henry de Bromhead's A Plus Tard - past year's Gold Cup victor but pulled up this clip astir - question from Ireland.

Henderson sends retired Shishkin implicit 3 miles for the archetypal clip aft his staying-on 2nd successful the Ryanair Chase astatine Cheltenham. Jamie Snowden's Ryanair 5th Ga Law is the different runner.

Constitution Hill won the Champion Hurdle astatine Cheltenham

Unbeaten champion hurdler Constitution Hill volition question a seventh consecutive triumph erstwhile helium lines up successful the pursuing Aintree Hurdle.

The equine of Nico de Boinville, races implicit a longer travel of much than 2 and a fractional miles earlier a imaginable power to steeplechasing adjacent season.

He has won his erstwhile races by a full of 86 lengths and has been described arsenic "the equine of a generation".

Stablemate and past year's victor Epatante is among 5 rivals astatine 15:35, alongside Zanahiyr, I Like To Move It, Sharjah and Sceau Royal.

Winged leader, Famous Clermont and Latenightpass are among entries for the Foxhunters' Chase.

It is the archetypal contention implicit the National obstacles astatine the three-day meeting, which culminates with the large contention connected Saturday.

Police accidental they volition deal "robustly" with immoderate disruption aft carnal rights activists threatened to sabotage the contention by forming a quality barricade crossed the course.

A maximum of 40 runners volition enactment up for Saturday's Grand National astatine Aintree

Grand National line-up to beryllium confirmed

Last year's victor Noble Yeats, runner-up Any Second Now and third-placed Delta Work are each acceptable to enactment up successful Saturday's Grand National.

The last tract volition beryllium confirmed from 10:00 BST connected Thursday, with a maximum of 40 runners allowed.

Corach Rambler, trained by Lucinda Russell - who won with One For Arthur successful 2017 - has been ante-post favourite since winning the Ultima Chase for a 2nd twelvemonth moving astatine Cheltenham past period and volition bid to go lone the 3rd Scottish-trained victor of the National.

Thirty 4 of the remaining 50 entries are trained successful Ireland, with the 40 highest-rated horses making the last field.

Delta Work is 1 of respective intended runners for trainer Gordon Elliott, who besides has Galvin, Fury Road and Coko Beach arsenic helium seeks a record-equalling 4th victory.

Our Power, Eva's Oskar and Francky Du Berlais volition question to go the lone Welsh-trained victor aft Kirkland successful 1905.

Approximate odds: 6-1 Corach Rambler, 8-1 Delta Work, Noble Yeats, 12-1 Gaillard Du Mesnil, 14-1 Mr Incredible, Any Second Now, Le Milos, Longhouse Poet, 16-1 Capodanno, 20-1 Ain't That A Shame, Galvin, Our Power, Vanillier, 25-1 Bar

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