D'Ainay Misses National Date Louping D'Ainay, the big French hope for the John Smith's Grand National, has been ruled out of the race after suffering a setback.The grey, trained by Francois Cottin, had pleased in an outing over hurdles last week at Auteuil and had been primed for the Aintree spectacle.Also a winner of the Prix du President de la Republique (French National), the eight-year-old has been placed in top chasing company across the Channel.'Unfortunately he has been ruled out for the rest of the season,' said Cottin.'He had his prep run the other day, where he ran a good race to be sixth and that would have left him spot-on for Aintree.'We cantered him four or five days later and the problem occurred. We don't know whether it came from the race or at home.'He has tendonitis ? you might say ?a touch of a leg'. It draws a curtain down on the season, but fingers crossed he will be back for the National next year.'(C) PA Sport
