Arizona Cardinal out of Aintree's Grand Sefton

The eight-year-old won his final three starts of last season for trainer The Stuart Edmunds-trained eight-year-old won his last three races at the end of last season, with victory in Aintree's Topham Chase back in April sealing the hat-trick.

Connections had been expecting an improved performance back over the Aintree fences after being disappointingly pulled up on his seasonal reappearance at Chepstow last month.

Edmunds said: “We were looking forward to sending Arizona Cardinal back to Aintree over the Grand National fences, but unfortunately he will not be going now as he scoped dirty when he came back in from his work this morning.

“We are all gutted, but it is just one of those things and the welfare of the horse has to come first.

“We will now regroup and aim him at the Becher Chase next month and hopefully he will be fine for that.”