Abolitionist and Blaklion ruled out of the Grand National

Abolitionist and Blaklion are both set to miss the Randox Health Grand National at Aintree next week.

Dr Richard Newland told Racing TV on Friday that his 11-year-old has picked up an injury and will be scratched from the Aintree feature and Phil Kirby took his new recruit Blaklion out of the extended four-and-a-quarter-mile feature on Friday morning.

The 2017 Becher Chase winner was set to make his debut for trainer Kirby and owners Darren and Annaley Yates at the Liverpool venue having been bought out of Nigel Twiston-Davies’ yard in February, but the ten-year-old may now be finished for the season.

Kirby said: “He’s got a back joint problem and he won’t be running next week.

“I’m disappointed, the owners really wanted to have a National runner and we’ve done everything we can to get him there in one piece.

“It’s not something that will stop him forever, but most likely for this season.”

Last year's winner Tiger Roll heads the betting for the iconic race on April 6 and is a best-priced 4-1 to become the first back-to-back winner of the Grand National since Red Rum.