Last year’s winner Nick Rockett has been withdrawn from this weekend’s Grand National at Aintree.
First reserve Pied Piper will take the place of the 2025 winner, who was taken out of the race having been reported to be coughing.
Jockey Tom Bellamy had been set to attempt to guide the Willie Mullins-trained horse to consecutive victories in Saturday’s race.
Patrick Mullins, who rode Nick Rockett to victory 12 months ago, had already chosen to ride Grangeclare West in the showpiece event.
Another horse from the Mullins stable, I Am Maximus, is the 7-1 favourite for the race.
The 2024 champion will be ridden by Paul Townend for the third year in a row, one of eight Mullins-trained horses now in the field.
Townend finished second to 33-1 chance Nick Rockett in last year’s race, when Mullins horses claimed the first three positions.
The Grand National starts at 16:00 BST on Saturday, with 34 horses on the start line.
