Opera Mundi to miss Aintree Grand National Paul Nicholls´ Opera Mundi has been ruled out of the John Smith´s Grand National after suffering a setback. Barry Simpson, racing manager for owner Sir Robert Ogden, said: "He´s got an infection which has caused swelling in a joint. "We walked the horse last night and he´s been on the walker this morning just to see if it can be walked off - but unfortunately it can´t. "We could have left it until tomorrow (Saturday) morning but there´s a reserve system in place and we want to play the game fairly." Opera Mundi, the intended mount of Liam Heard, was a general 66-1 chance for Aintree glory. Nigel Twiston-Davies´ Ardaghey, the first reserve for the National, has been promoted into the field, with David England booked to ride the nine-year-old.
