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Red Marauder out of Grand National

Red Marauder, winner of the 2001 Martell Grand National, will not bid for a repeat win in the Aintree showpiece, it was revealed this afternoon.

The 12-year-old, trained by Norman Mason, was found to have some heat in a leg after having his first serious piece of work yesterday.

'There is a bit of bruising in his leg and a little heat.

'He`s out for the season but we won`t retire him. He`ll come back for the Hennessy next season,' Richard Guest, jockey and Mason`s assistant, told BBC Sport.

Red Marauder has been off the track since his amazing triumph in atrocious conditions 10 months ago, but Guest believes that the injury is not bad enough to force his retirement.

'He likes being a racehorse and his legs aren`t that terrible. We`ll get him treated. It`s not desperate but it`s enough to stop.'