Junior (near) will bid to atone for Grand National fall at Ayr on Saturday
PICTURE: Martin LynchLie Forrit out as Junior tops field for Ayr feature
JUNIOR featured among 25 declarations for the Coral Scottish National at Ayr, although fellow leading contender Lie Forrit misses Saturday's showpiece.
The David Pipe-trained nine-year-old, who crashed out of the John Smith's Grand National at the second fence, will be joined in theline-up by market principals Harry The Viking, Portrait King and Merigo.
Lie Forrit was ruled out of the race after coughing on Thursday, while West End Rocker was another notable absentee.
Lie Forrit's trainer Willie Amos told racingpost.com: "I'm devastated. The ground had come right and I was sure he was well handicapped, then this has happened.
"I've had a few cough recently and it was swept through the whole of the yard.It was not until this morning that he coughed and I'm sure it's nothing more than a common cold but he can't run now. That's him finished for the season."
Matt Sheppard, trainer of Ikorodu Road, told At The Races: "I'm very pleased with his preparation, I'm very confident four miles and half a furlong will be his trip and he's got to be in with a live shout."
Vic Venturi, Rivage D'Or, Fredo, State Benefit, Lively Baron, Red Harbour, Posh Bird and Chernik also miss out.
Tony McCoy and Ruby Walsh are scheduled to return to action at Ayr on Friday after suffering injuries at Aintree last Saturday.
Walsh will ride Dildar, Likeable Rogue and The Knoxs for Paul Nicholls, while McCoy will partner Divers for Ferdy Murphy and Merry King for Jonjo O'Neill.
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