Junior left in Ayr field after Aintree fall

Junior has been left in the Coral Scottish Grand National on Saturday after his early exit at Aintree. David Pipe’s charge had his whole season built around the John Smith’s Grand National but came down at the second fence and would carry top weight at Ayr.

West End Rocker, another early Aintree casualty, is also still in the mix for Alan King. King could also run the novice Walkon. Benny Be Good, Knockara Beau, Fruity O’Rooney and Galaxy Rock are also towards the head of the weights.

Paul Nicholls, looking to follow up the victory of Neptune Collonges, runs ante-post favourite Harry The Viking, part-owned by Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

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Matt Sheppard’s Ikorodu Road, winner of two decent races recently, is another leading fancy to stand his ground. Lie Forrit, 2010 winner Merigo and Eider Chase victor Portrait King are also among the 35 left in.

Harry The Viking is 6-1 favourite with the sponsors, Coral. “Trainer Paul Nicholls enjoyed success in the biggest National of them all on Saturday, and we make Harry The Viking clear favourite to give the stable further big race success this weekend,” said Coral’s David Stevens.

“However, opposition to the favourite, co-owned by Sir Alex Ferguson, is headed by the 2010 winner and last year’s runner-up, Merigo, and Portrait King, who proved his liking for a marathon trip with his Eider Chase victory.”

Meanwhile, Malcolm Jefferson has spoken in defence of the John Smith’s Grand National after paying tribute to According To Pete, who lost his life at Aintree on Saturday. The winner of nearly £250,000 in prize money and a feature at the yard for seven years, Malton-based Jefferson had forged a strong bond with Peter Nelson’s home-bred.

On the back of his best-ever year as a trainer with two winners at Cheltenham and the same two horses following up on Merseyside, Jefferson found the loss hard to take. However, he remains a supporter of the National and feels it is time to stop tinkering with the conditions of the race.

“He was one of my favourites so it’s hit me very hard,” said Jefferson. “As a trainer, and it’s the same for anyone in racing, you don’t go to the races expecting to lose your horse. All owners love their horses, especially Peter.

“Everyone seemed to know about According To Pete, too, he had that big white face and he loved his racing. Tina Pearson, his lass, is devastated. It was just a freak accident. He was loving it, jumping for fun – I always thought he would. If he’d just been brought down and got back up again we’d be taking him back next year, but he broke his shoulder unfortunately.

“You can’t do anything about it, it’s just a freak accident that could have happened anywhere but because it was the National everyone saw it.

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“They can’t carry on making changes. In my eyes the fences should be bigger to slow them down. If they were a foot higher Pete would still have jumped them.

“Now they are trying to please everybody and you can’t. People say make the field smaller, but what if next year another two die? Then they’ll want 20 runners.

“Watering to ensure softer ground might help. There was a lot of carry on after last year’s race, and I just wish they’d stop trying to please everyone because you can’t.

“The National is a great race and the only reason you get such a reaction is because so many people watch it. If I have a suitable horse next year I’ll enter him. You’ve got to support the race, it’s our biggest day of the year.”