Cheltenham winner Footpad has been ruled out of this week's big Aintree meeting by trainer Willie Mullins.
The winner of the Racing Post Arkle Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last month is not in the best of shape and Mullins has decided not to send him to Liverpool, where he was expected to run in the Doom Bar Maghull Novices' Chase on Saturday.
Mullins said: “Footpad didn't scope cleanly a few days ago and we're not happy with him. We have run out of time with him to make Aintree and he won't be travelling.
“The Maghull Novices' Chase was the race we were aiming for.”
Footpad was hugely impressive at Cheltenham as he won by 14 lengths in the Arkle, his third success at Grade 1 level, and will be missed at Aintree this week, with Mullins saying he will see how the six-year-old recovers before making any plans for the remainder of the season.
He added: “We'll see how quickly he recovers before making any plans.”
