War Of Attrition looks set to run in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at Cheltenham after an angry Mouse Morris ruled him out of the John Smith’s Grand National.
After being allocated a weight of 11st 1lb, the eleven-year-olds trainer was quick to dismiss running him in the Aintree showpiece and is currently a 33-1 chance with the sponsors for festival success in March.
The former Cheltenham Gold Cup winner has won his last two starts over hurdles, the latest being a game front running display at Navan over the weekend but is still set to be retired at the end of the season.
A furious Morris said: “I think with that weight they are basically saying they don't want us to run”
"If (joint top-weight) Albertas Run is rated 164 and we are getting 9lb, that means he's rating us 155.
"I entered our horse in a handicap chase at Sandown the other week and they rated him 149, so I don't know how they've come up with 11st 1lb to be honest.
"We've decided we're not going to go as we won't be going where we're not wanted and I don't know how he can justify that weight.
"The plan now would be to go straight to the World Hurdle and he'll then probably have his last run at the Punchestown Festival in the Guinness Gold Cup or the big staying hurdle race" added Morris.
Free £25 bet from Ladbrokes. Use code MAXIMUMBONUS