Scottish-trained Mr Incredible ‘barred’ from Grand National

Randox Grand National 2025

Aintree Racecourse Location: Saturday, April 5, 2019 12:00 BST

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has forbade Mr. Incredible from competing in Saturday’s Grand National, according to his trainer Sandy Thomson.

For the 34-runner race at Aintree, the horse was an outsider.

Mr. Incredible was scheduled to realize his owner’s long-term goal of competing in the Grand National, Winter Olympian James Manclark.

He hasn’t run a race since March 2024 and has only given up or pulled up once during his previous four starts.

According to Scottish trainer Thomson, “I am utterly frustrated, irritated, and sad.”

The National Fence Review Panel, a highly skilled group of former jockeys, veterinarians, course clerks, and stewards who carefully consider each horse’s suitability for participation, must evaluate each horse before entering any race over the Grand National fences, according to a BHA statement.

Before making a decision on whether to participate, the panel carefully evaluates each horse’s ability, fitness, recent form, and overall readiness for its intended race. It also closely collaborates with any connections that may be concerned.

Even though connections had been pleased with the horse’s performance, the racing’s ruling body questioned whether Mr. Incredible had sufficient form when he started but pulled up in a recent race at Kelso.

Freddy Steele, a horse therapist, has been working with Mr. Incredible for the past seven weeks.

He claimed to be showing “progress” both at home and on the track, and that he was using “natural horsemanship” techniques effectively.

The stewards addressed Mr. Incredible’s behavior to the BHA, who claimed he was “unruly” and appeared to pull himself up after the 14th fence.

The nine-year-old has finished second in four of his 16 races.

However, he has already lost three of his previous four races and has turned down the other one.

Mr. Incredible competed alongside Irish champion trainer Willie Mullins in the Midlands Grand National last year despite his unpredictable behavior.

He was regarded as one of the top 2024 National contenders, and he faced a 10-1 penalty at the start against unseated rider Brian Hayes.

Hayes was also unseated by Mr. Incredible at the 24th fence after his saddle slipped, 12 months prior.

” It was 100% the BHA’s decision. We filed an appeal. They worried that he might disrupt the beginning, Thomson said.

He has never interfered with any start, in my opinion. I could not see why he wouldn’t have entered the Grand National without his Kelso start, and having more horses nearby would have helped.

“His recent form was another thing they said, but their criteria said they would take into account his last six runs, which included second in the Midlands National. It was a “completely unsatisfaction” situation.

In December, the horse left his stables to join Thomson.