Star Metro - Reigning champion Nick Rockett out of Grand National

The nine-year-old provided one of the storied steeplechase's most emotional stories when he won at the Aintree course last year for the father-and-son team of trainer Willie Mullins and jockey Patrick Mullins.

Stablemate I am Maximus, second in 2025, is currently favourite for this year's edition as Willie Mullins bids to become just the second trainer, after the celebrated Vincent O'Brien back in the 1950s, to win three successive Grand Nationals.

Nick Rockett has only been seen once since when reappearing at the Down Royal track, near Lisburn, in Northern Ireland, last month.

There was a surprise at Wednesday's declarations when it was announced Patrick Mullins had changed horses to ride Grangeclare West, paving the way for Tom Bellamy to receive an unexpected summons to partner Nick Rockett.

Bellamy's joy, however, barely lasted 24 hours, with Nick Rockett reported to be coughing.

His absence would normally have meant the first reserve, Gordon Elliott's Pied Piper, came into the four-mile race, featuring 30 fences.

But Elliott, like Mullins one of Irish jump racing's leading trainers, said later Thursday that Pied Piper would also miss out.

"He doesn't run, he's lame," said Elliott. "He's at home, we didn't even load him as he was lame yesterday (Wednesday) evening."

Pied Piper's absence would mean a starting spot for Philip Hobbs and Johnson White's Imperial Saint, with the deadline for any more changes to the final starting line-up at 1:00 pm local (1200 GMT) on Friday.

M.Johnson--SMC