Radcliffe, who returned early from her training base in America 10 days ago for treatment on the problem that forced her out of last month’s Commonwealth Games, left it to the last moment before making her decision.
The world marathon record holder came came back from Albuqerque, New Mexico, to see the German surgeon Hans Muller-Wohlfahrt in Munich. Paula Radcliffe will reassess her racing schedule following her announcement today that she is to miss this month’s London Marathon with a foot injury. “If he gets in, he’ll give them all a run,” said the trainer’s husband, Harvey Smith.The 12 horses taken out are Calling Brave, Fondmort, Celtic Son, Seebald, Joly Bey, Europa, Another Rum, Kymandjen, Marcus Du Berlais, Coljon, Bounce Back and No Retreat.* The BHB plans to introduce 48-hour declarations for all Flat races from July.. He was second in the Betfred and has a squeak.”Ladbrokes report backing for Sue Smith-trained Ross Comm and have shortened him to 20-1, although he is not guaranteed a run. He will have the 1996-winning rider, Mick Fitzgerald in the saddle “Juveigneur ran a great race at Cheltenham,” Meagher said. “He’s been round Aintree, in the Topham, and said was just adequate, but they schooled him last week and he jumped away great so they are happy and are going there positive enough with him. Michael Meagher, racing manager to the gelding’s owner, Trevor Hemmings, said: “Willie [Mullins, his trainer] is very happy with him but 4-1 is ridiculous.”
Hemmings will have a second string in Juveigneur, who finished second in the William Hill Chase at Cheltenham.

At the top of the handicap Hedgehunter is 4-1 favourite to land back-to-back runnings. Just 12 horses were withdrawn at yesterday’s five-day declaration stage for the Grand National, leaving 84 horses left in the race and well backed hopes in Ross Comm and Colnel Rayburn as uncertain participants. “So many horses that really believe in themselves.”Chris McGrathNap: McEldowney(Pontefract 5.20)NB: Harvest Warrior(Pontefract 4.20). The older horses are headed by Scorpion, who may run in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh in preparation for the Coronation Cup.And then there is the small matter of 23 juveniles from the final crop of Danehill; 15 priceless ones by the ageing Sadler’s Wells; another 15 by the American champion sire, Storm Cat; and of course several apiece by Coolmore’s emerging stallions: Montjeu, Rock Of Gibraltar, Giant’s Causeway.Their sleek young sons breezed up the gallops, like a lantern show of the breed’s evolution, groping ever closer for the paragon thoroughbred “We have real depth this year,” their trainer mused. For instance, O’Brien did not rule out the possibility that the 1,000 Guineas favourite, Rumpelstiltskin, could be diverted to the French equivalent, having delivered her best performance last season at Longchamp – “though Newmarket would be favourite at the moment”.Fallon, meanwhile, nominated as his “dark horse” another son of Giant’s Causeway, Hitchcock, still a maiden after fracturing a cannon bone on his second start. He runs with his head out, and there’s always more there.”The stable has such an embarrassment of riches among its three-year-olds – though the genuine embarrassment will perhaps be felt by the Maktoums instead – that some of the most envied animals in Europe were reduced to footnotes. “I’d say he is the closest we’ve had to Giant’s Causeway since he was here,” he said.

“He’s exactly in the mould of your man: tough, relaxed, a tank of a horse with a great mind. With time running out, O’Brien considers that an impractical target, but noted that races like the Travers Stakes at Saratoga in August and of course the Breeders’ Cup leave his patrons with ample opportunity to advertise future stallions to the American market.O’Brien was notably enthusiastic about Art Museum, the Storm Cat colt who won both his starts at the Curragh in September but missed the Middle Park Stakes after bruising a foot. That would tell us plenty and we could then start splitting them up.”Three other colts in “Millionaires’ Row” are entered in the Kentucky Derby: Frost Giant, Hurricane Cat and Art Museum. “If we get a dry week I’d love to take a whole lot of them to the Curragh on Sunday and get Kieren [Fallon] to sit on as many as possible. “He has so much speed that the mile would be my biggest worry I’ll believe it when I see it. Horatio will either go to the Guineas and then the Derby or he could take the Ballysax and Derrinstown route at Leopardstown.”O’Brien will postpone that decision until he has a better idea of how various less exposed Classic candidates are shaping up “The ground has been too bad to sharpen them up,” he said. He feels that George Washington must demonstrate stamina for an eighth furlong, while Horatio Nelson may keep out of his neighbour’s way and step up to 10 furlongs for a Derby trial instead.”George is very fast, probably as fast as we’ve ever had here,” O’Brien said.

On the gallops, when he lies up with them doing a half-speed, he’d be herding them.”The stable’s present hegemony is measured by the fact that the nearest rival to George Washington in the betting on the Stan James 2,000 Guineas is in the adjacent box. The best price against George Washington is 5-2 with Coral, who offer 5-1 against Horatio Nelson. Yet their trainer disclosed grounds for caution about both during his press open morning yesterday. “The way he’ll look you up and down, it’s unusual in a horse.