National Scare For Longshanks

Kim Bailey has taken no chances with his John Smith's Grand National hope Longshanks, who has been sent to an equine spa to recover after bruising a foot at the weekend.

A winner of his only race this season, the gelding was ruled out of the Aintree marathon last term and has also missed the cut before.

'Longshanks has managed to tread on a stone, bruising the sole of his off fore,' said Bailey on his website, www.kimbaileyracing.com.

'We whipped the shoe off and rather than fight the bruising, we have sent him off with a healthy set of water wings to one of the smartest equine health spas in the world, which just happens to be based just down the road at Inglesham near Lechlade.

'This will be a huge benefit to Longshanks as all this treatment and activity will keep his fitness levels up, which is hugely important, while also giving him a relaxing change of scenery.

'Longshanks will return here half way through the week to do his final piece of work before the Grand National.

'There is never a good time to bruise a foot but if he was going to test us I am thankful we have two weeks to go before the big race, not seven days.'

Longshanks can be backed at 25-1 for the National on April 14, in which he is set to carry 10st 7lb and be ridden by Tony Dobbin.

(C) PA Sport