Shamelessly copied from another forum - I wish I could say I was shocked and surprised but I guess I'm not. Just very sad.....
Article copied from Racing Post website....
THE name L'Ami is set to be the name on many a punter's lips between now and April 14 after the French chaser was named the horse almost certainly set to carry Tony McCoy in the Grand National.
McCoy had been expected to partner Far From Trouble prior to the Galway Plate winner's withdrawal and was subsequently linked with Clan Royal - his mount in the last two Nationals - until John Thomas McNamara was revealed as the Aintree regular's new rider.
Instead, McCoy will assist L'Ami for boss JP McManus, renewingan association that was temporarily broken when the champion was allowed to ride Exotic Dancer in the Gold Cup, in which L'Ami finished seventh under Mick Fitzgerald. L'Ami was on Tuesday trading as short as 14-1 with Totesport.
Speaking on Tuesday, McManus's racing Frank Berry said: "I'm sure AP will ride L'Ami in the National, but we've got four in the race, so whatever he rides will be one of ours."
L'Ami featured among 81 horses left in the National following the latest forfeit stage, at which Far From Trouble, Exotic Dancer, Sir Rembrandt and Cornish Rebel were among 25 taken out of the race.
Still very much in the race is 2006 Topham Chase winner Liberthine, who on Tuesday underwent an unusual experience for a National contender when covered by a stallion in Newmarket.
The Nicky Henderson-trained mare, who last year slipped a foal by Poliglote, has disappointed on her last two starts with connections believing her to have been in season on both occasions. In a bid to prevent that happening again, she visited Hernando.
Rider Sam Waley-Cohen said: "She was covered by Hernando and seemed to be completely fine afterwards, so we're hoping that we'll find out that she is actually in foal.
"For the last two years we have felt that she would be a fantastic horse to run in the National. She would have a good chance on the form she showed at Cheltenham in December but she has run pretty 'mareishly' on her two starts since then.
"There's a lot of talk that mares in foalcan run better for whatever reason but, at the very least, she certainly won't be in season if she's running in foal."
Idle Talk, who unseated Jason Maguire in the Gold Cup, was on Tuesday talked up by trainer Donald McCain, who said: "I am as confident he will handle the fences as you can be with a horse going there the first time. You can never be 100 per cent sure, but I wouldn't be swapping his chances for many."
Hedgehunter, first and second in the last two Nationals and set to carry top weight for the second year running, is being lined up for a late prep run over hurdles at Limerick on Sunday.
Trainer Willie Mullins told BBC Sport: "He's now done two bits of fast work and seems to be good. I'm going to enter him in a two-mile hurdle race at Limerick on Sunday."
Three Carberrys could ride in this year's National after Michael Hourigan revealed that Nina Carberry will partner A New Story should the gelding, who needs 14 horses to come out to get a run, make the finalline up. Nina's brothers Paul and Philip have been booked
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