National no-go for Albertas (From Evesham Journal)

National no-go for Albertas

8:00am Thursday 21st March 2013 in Sport

THREE-time Cheltenham Festival winner Albertas Run will not tackle the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree on April 6.

The 12-year-old, trained by Temple Guiting’s Jonjo O’Neill, was pulled up in the Ryanair Chase at the Festival amid speculation he may have run his last race.

The Trevor Hemmingsowned Albertas Run, who has won the Ryanair twice and the 2008 RSA Chase, failed to finish in his first start this season in Gloucestershire.

Frisco Depot, trained by Chipping Norton’s Charlie Longsdon, fell in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup at Cheltenham and also misses Aintree.

However, Nigel Twiston- Davies’ 2010 Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Imperial Commander (11st 10lb) heads the weights and is priced at 33-1, while O’Neill’s Sunnyhillboy is in at 11st 4lb and 20-1.