Trainer Paul Nicholls has confirmed that Tidal Bay will miss both the Ladbrokes World Hurdle and the John Smith’s Grand National.
Seabass is 16/1 to win the 2013 Grand National with Boylesports.com
The 12-year-old looked a leading Grand National contender, having already won the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas, and been allotted what looked a favourable handicap mark for the Aintree race.
However, Nicholls wrote in his blog at www.betfair.com/paulnicholls:
“He was out cantering as usual on Monday and Tuesday, but on Wednesday we decided to step up his work. But his work rider came back up and said he didn’t feel right. So we immediately called in Buffy and, after discussions, we got him down to Newmarket today for an MRI Scan.
“The news through from Buffy is that Tidal Bay has a tiny stress fracture of the lower cannon bone on his right hind leg. This is something that the X-rays we took before his problem in the Argento didn’t pick up; only today’s MRI did. He needs a month’s box rest, so that rules out the National.”
