Sean Bowen takes over from injured Cobden on Give Me A Copper in Grand National

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Cobden taken to hospital as Sean Bowen comes in for Give Me A Copper ride

Harry Cobden has been stood down for the rest of the afternoon after taking a crunching fall from Lucky One in the Grade 1 Mersey Novice's Hurdle, meaning Sean Bowen comes in for the ride on Give Me A Copper in the Randox Grand National.

Cobden was able to walk to the ambulance but Paul Nicholls' assistant trainer Harry Derham said: "Harry Cobden has gone to hospital for scans on his head and his neck. He was conscious but he's very, very sore."

Bowen will be having his sixth ride in the National and has completed three times, with his best finish coming whenin 2015 when 11th on Mon Parrain.

Going update: good to soft on National course

The going is good to soft on the Grand National course ahead of this afternoon's big race after around 6mm of water was applied to all courses overnight. The going on both the chase and hurdles courses is good to soft, good in places.

Clerk of the course Sulekha Varma said: "We put down six millimetres overnight and we've left the going unchanged. It's another bright, dry day so we'll keep an eye and see how things go but I'm hoping the going will stay as it is.

"We had quite a hard frost this morning, there's no concerns for racing but it is surprisingly cold. It got down to minus three on the ground so it is a bit of a chilly one.

"It's great to finally get to today because it has been a long build up but we're all really excited to get going."

Updated at 8.38am

Free Grand National tips: five horses to back in Saturday's big race at Aintree

Non-runners: no National withdrawals overnight

1.45: 10 Corrieben Reiver, 13 Southfield Harvest,15 Polish
2.25: 3 Ballybeg
4.15: 4 Ramses De Teillee
6.20: 2 Brave Kingdom, 8 Go Dante

Updated at 1.03pm

Runner-by-runner guide: trainer quotes and ratings for the Grand National

Market movers: Takingrisks supported with Cloth Cap weak

The gamble on Takingrisks has continued this morning with the 12-year-old now a general 14-1 for this afternoon's Randox Grand National, with one bookmaker going as short as 11-1.

Takingrisks was available at as big as 40-1 with some firms earlier this week but sustained support since has seen his price plummet as punters look for alternatives away from the top of the market

Leading players Cloth Cap, Burrows Saint and Minella Times have all been weak this morning, as backers flock to support Takingrisks and other familiar veteran names.

Mister Malarky, is now a general 16-1 chance having been a 20-1 shot overnight, while the Brian Ellison-trained Definitly Red – another 12-year-old – is into 40-1 (from 66-1), with Paddy Power this morning.

On Friday, the same firm reported a notable move for another veteran in the shape of Sub Lieutenant, who has form over the National fences and was trimmed from into 40-1 from 60-1.

Paddy Power market movers

3.35: Thomas Darby 22-1 (from 25-1), Diol Ker 10-1 (from 11-1)
4.15: Top Notch 17-2 (from 9-1)
5.15: Definitly Red 40-1 (from 66-1), Takingrisks 14-1 (from 20-1), Mister Malarky 16-1 (from 20-1)

Paddy Power spokesman Paul Binfield said: "Our three worst National results currently are Definitly Red, Mister Malarky and Takingrisks, but at the top of the market Cloth Cap is a significant loser too."

Updated at 1.03pm

Top stories: Mania replaces Brooke on Definitly Red but Quinlan passes fit

Ryan Mania, no stranger to Grand National glory having partnered 66-1 shot Auroras Encore to victory in 2013, has come in for a late spare ride aboard Definitly Red.

Henry Brooke was due to ride the Brian Ellison-trained 12-year-old, who is a general 40-1 chance, but took a heavy fall at Sedgefield on Friday and is not fit enough to ride at Aintree.

Mania will also step in to ride Mr Whipped in the Betway Handicap Chase (4.15).

Agent Richard Hale said: "Henry Brooke is battered and bruised and won't be riding today. He doesn't feel he can do himself justice and is going to take a week off to recover."

Brooke unseated at the same fence in the same Sedgefield race as Sean Quinlan, who will take the ride aboard the well-supported Takingrisks in the Grand National after being passed fit by a doctor.

Quinlan said: "I've passed the doctor and I'm looking forward to the ride. I was fearing the worst when I was lying at the back of a ditch at Sedgefield yesterday.

"In the end I was just winded and had a bit of a dead leg. I've been lucky, but it's unfortunate for Henry [Brooke] as you build your whole season around riding in the National."

Shishkin aiming for another Grade 1

The all-conquering Shishkin looks to maintain his unbeaten record over fences this afternoon in the Grade 1 Doom Bar Maghull Novices' Chase (3.00).

Such is the superstar's reputation he appears to have scared off a number of more likely challengers and faces just four rivals with his current price an eyewatering 1-7.

Shishkin is following in the footsteps of both Sprinter Sacre and Altior as he looks to become the latest two-mile chasing champion to hail from the Nicky Henderson yard.

Our top tipster Graeme Rodway assessed Shishkin against his two stablemates in his breakdown of this afternoon's race, while Henderson espoused confidence ahead of his Arkle winner's return.

"This seems the obvious place to come as he seems a sharp horse and I don't see the need to go any further at the moment," Henderson said. "The tracks couldn't be more different if you tried and this is a sharp track but he is a speed horse.

"He's been great, he's come out of Cheltenham bright and well so here we go again. They'll all have a go at him but he can have one more run before we put him away."

Updated at 1.03pm

5.15 Aintree Saturday: Randox Grand National racecard and betting

If you want more on the 2021 Grand National . . .

'You'd have to like his chances' – Jonjo O'Neill bullish about Cloth Cap

Grand National strategies: how to find the winner of the 40-runner epic

Grand National steamers: five horses who could shorten in the build-up

2021 Grand National at Aintree to go ahead as planned, Jockey Club confirms

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