Simon Out of National Simon has been scratched from the John Smith's Grand National and Sandown's Bet365 Gold Cup following a disappointing display at Cheltenham. The 10-year-old, owned and bred by former trainer Mercy Rimell, will not run again this season after being pulled up before the third-last fence in the William Hill Trophy won by Wichita Lineman. He will be given a long holiday with connections hoping he will regain his sparkle next season. "He's all right but we decided he hasn't had a very good year," said trainer John Spearing. "We couldn't get him quite as we wanted him so we are going to leave him off until next year." Simon, winner of the 2007 Racing Post Chase, has exited at Valentines on the second circuit in the last two runnings of the Grand National. He had been a 25-1 chance to make it third time lucky at Aintree next month.
