Importance Score: 54 / 100 🔵
Mr Incredible Excluded from 2025 Grand National Line-Up
Aintree Grand National contender, Mr Incredible, has been ruled out of the prestigious horse race, according to his trainer. The setback follows the racing horse’s removal from the list of participants for the celebrated steeplechase. Initially considered an outsider for the Saturday event at Aintree, featuring a field of 34, Mr Incredible is now ineligible to compete due to a decision made by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA).
Owner’s Dream Dashed
James Manclark, the owner and a former Winter Olympian representing Great Britain in 1968, had harbored aspirations of witnessing his horse compete in the Grand National. However, this aspiration was thwarted when a list of seven withdrawn horses was published, which included Mr Incredible.
Trainer Expresses Disappointment
“It’s genuinely disheartening, and I am deeply disappointed for the owner, as he acquired the horse specifically to participate in the National,” Sandy Thomson, the trainer, conveyed to a news outlet.
“We were very eager to compete and dedicated considerable effort to prepare him for Aintree. However, we received notification of the withdrawal, and our subsequent appeal proved unsuccessful.”
BHA Concerns Over Horse’s Suitability
Reports suggest that BHA officials determined that Mr Incredible’s participation would not be in the best interests of the renowned race. Concerns reportedly stem from an incident in the previous year’s Grand National where jockey Brian Hayes was unseated, indirectly causing another competitor to also fall.
Past Racing Incidents
In a recent event at Kelso, Mr Incredible commenced the race but was ultimately pulled up. BHA stewards, after reviewing the incident, characterized the horse’s conduct as “unruly.”
The nine-year-old racing horse has achieved victory in two out of 16 prior races and secured second place on four occasions. However, he has been pulled up in three of his preceding four races and refused to race in another. He has not completed a race since March 2024.
Mr Incredible transitioned to new stables in the previous year, and the current handlers expressed optimism regarding his future prospects after collaborating with equine therapist Freddy Steele for the preceding seven weeks.
Appeal Against BHA Decision Fails
“The decision was entirely from the BHA,” Thomson reiterated. “We contested it through an appeal. Their primary concern centered on the potential for him to disrupt the race start. My argument was that he has never exhibited disruptive behavior at any start.”
“Having successfully started him at Kelso, I saw no logical reason why he would not commence in the Grand National, especially considering that the increased number of horses around him would likely have been beneficial.”
“Their secondary point related to his recent performance history, but their stated criteria indicated consideration of the preceding six races, which encompassed his second-place finish in the Midlands National. It is a thoroughly unsatisfactory situation.”