Door has Grand National aim Shutthefrontdoor is one of the more notable absentees after 24 horses stood their ground for the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup following the latest forfeit stage. Last season's Irish Grand National hero has not been seen since running out an impressive winner of a graduation chase at Carlisle in early November, but had been as short as 16-1 for the blue riband. Connections have decided to skip the Festival and Jonjo O'Neill will instead prepare the JP McManus-owned eight-year-old for a tilt at the Crabbie's Grand National at Aintree. McManus' racing manager Frank Berry said: "He's fine. We just felt it would be a lot to ask to run in the Gold Cup without having had a run. "He's 100 per cent and hopefully he'll have a run somewhere and if all goes well we'll look towards the National." Shutthefrontdoor is one of 11 horses to have been scratched, with the sidelined Dynaste, the novice Kings Palace, Taquin Du Seuil and Al Ferof also taken out.
