Lane and Welburn miss out

One-time favourite Moor Lane has failed to make the cut by two for Saturday`s Martell Grand National at today`s final 48-hour declaration stage.

Ian Balding`s 10-year-old is one of four reserves for the Stg#500,000 Aintree showpiece, along with Browjoshy, Dark Stranger and Amberleigh House.

Nicky Henderson`s Marlborough, fourth in the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup last time, heads the field of 40 runners in the expected absence of the Willie Mullins-trained Florida Pearl.

Mullins is represented by Hennessy winner Alexander Banquet.

Paul Nicholls` Ad Hoc and Martin Pipe`s Blowing Wind, who have been vying for favouritism over the last couple of weeks, stand their ground, with champion jockey Tony McCoy confirmed on board Pipe`s runner, third last year.

Another notable absentee is Caroline Bailey`s Gunner Welburn, the intended mount of Tony Dobbin, who misses out by one and runs today in the Martell Fox Hunters` rather than take up the option of being a reserve.

Pipe is delighted with the form of Blowing Wind and told BBC Radio Five Live: 'He`s very well. Tony schooled him on Monday over National-type fences, he was delighted with him.

'He was a little bit careful just at first then he really enjoyed it and he said that`s definitely his ride in the National.

'He really enjoyed it last year Blowing Wind.'

Florida Pearl`s absence has resulted in the weights going up 5lb with Marlborough on 11st 12lb, followed by Alexander Banquet on 11st 11lb.

Ad Hoc carries 11st 1lb with Blowing Wind on 10st 6lb.

As well as Marlborough and Ad Hoc, leading owner Sir Robert Ogden is also represented by Martin Todhunter`s Kingsmark (11-9).

Norman Mason was responsible for last year`s winner Red Marauder and sends out Red Ark (10-0) this time around, the mount of Kenny Johnson with stable jockey and assistant Richard Guest on Paris Pike (10-13) for Ferdy Murphy.

Nigel Twiston-Davies has two runners, Beau (11-1), who was travelling so well for a long way last year before getting tangled in his own reins, the mount of Carl Llewellyn, twice successful in the big race on Party Politics (1992) and Earth Summit (1998).

And the trainer`s Bindaree (10-4), who was well-backed on Wednesday, now the mount of Gold Cup-winning jockey Jim Culloty following the injury to intended rider Jamie Goldstein at Ludlow.