Connections of L'Homme Presse are devastated after the 11-year-old gelding was ruled out of the Grand National due to lameness. Trainer Venetia Williams discovered the issue during a routine check, revealing the horse requires rest and recuperation. Owner Andy Edwards, speaking under the DFA Racing banner, stated: 'I'm completely devastated and so are the others.' The gelding, a Brown Advisory winner at Cheltenham 2022, had been earmarked for Aintree after a strong Gold Cup showing, but the setback means he won't pass the required veterinary video assessment.

Edwards lamented: 'To have a horse so wonderful... culminate with him running in the Grand National would have been the pinnacle.' It's the second consecutive year L'Homme Presse misses the race due to injury.