Grand National favourite Minella Rocco withdrawn by trainer Jonjo O’Neill

Grand National favourite Minella Rocco will not run in next month's showpiece at Aintree, trainer Jonjo O’Neill has confirmed.

The runner-up at the Gold Cup was ranked around the 8-1 favourite, but has be pulled from the event as the seven-year-old prepares for next year’s Cheltenham Festival showpiece.

Shutthefrontdoor has also been pulled from the Grand National.

O'Neill tweeted: "Minella Rocco has been taken out of the Grand National this morning. He's absolutely fine and we'll aim him at the Gold Cup again next year."

"Shutthefrontdoor has also been taken out of the Grand National and will head for the Irish Grand National next month."

Frank Berry, owner JP McManus' racing manager, added: "He's finished for the year now, he won't be going to Punchestown either.

"He's only seven and he had a hard race in the Gold Cup.

"It will take him a while to get over it so we felt we'd just look to next year with him."