Philip Reynolds has confirmed that a leg injury has ruled Mall Dini out of Saturday’s Grand National so Just A Par will run instead.
The Patrick Kelly-trained nine-year-old was lined up to feature in the showpiece race at Aintree this weekend but owner Reynolds revealed late on Thursday evening that an injury suffered in the build-up has ended his hopes.
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Reynolds, who watched Moon Over Germany win the Close Brothers Red Rum Handicap Chase on Thursday afternoon, said: “I heard just a few minutes before Moon Over Germany ran that Mall Dini has got a leg injury.
“I said to Rachael (Blackmore) just before the race started that I needed a pick up, big time. I’ve wanted a runner in the National for a long time and this has happened on the eve of the National.”
The James Moffatt-trained Just A Par will step up from the reserve list to take the place of Mall Dini as the 12-year-old targets a first race win since the Greatwood Veterans’ Handicap Chase at Newbury in March 2017 when part of Paul Nicholls’ stable.
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