- Reigning Grand National champion Nick Rockett has been withdrawn from Saturday's race at Aintree.
- The nine-year-old horse was declared a non-runner on Thursday morning after being reported to be coughing.
- As a result, Gordon Elliott’s Pied Piper, the first reserve, will now take its place in the race.
- Nick Rockett's absence potentially improves the chances of I Am Maximus, who is now the favourite and aims to become the first horse since Red Rum to regain the title, after winning it for the first time in 2024.
- The deadline for reserves to enter the final field is 1pm on Friday, should there be any further non-runners.
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