BHA rectifies mistake after system error rules two runners out of Saturday's Grand National Trial

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The BHA acted quickly to rectify an error on Thursday morning which led to two horses being eliminated from this weekend's William Hill Half A Mill Grand National Trial Handicap Chase at Haydock.

Declarations for the premier handicap closed at 10am on Thursday with 11 horses remaining in contention, however less than an hour later the two horses at the bottom of the weights, Grand Albert and Neo King, were shown to have been eliminated from the race.

Although the BHA implemented a new rule last month across Flat and jump racing that determined any horse 15lb or more outside the handicap would be prevented from running, Grand Albert is within the weights and Neo King was just 4lb out, meaning both were eligible to race.

The two horses were swiftly reinstated by the BHA shortly after the mistake, which was attributed to a system error, and are able to participate in the £100,000 contest, which also offers the winner automatic free entry to the Randox Grand National on April 11.

Their reinsertion means there are 11 intended runners, an improvement on last year's nine, with the Nigel and Willy Twiston-Davies-trained Top Of The Bill topping the weights off a mark of 145.

Welsh Grand National third Deafening Silence heads the market at 3-1 for Dan Skelton, with last year's Ultima Handicap Chase winner Myretown at 4-1.

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