PAUL NICHOLLS says he is ‘bitterly disappointed’ after Bravemansgame was dramatically blocked from running at Aintree.
The King George winner was due to take part in the Grade 1 Bowl Chase on day one of the Grand National meeting.
Paul Nicholls was left ‘bitterly disappointed’ after Bravemansgame was blocked from running at Aintree
But the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) intervened to stop the horse running, with the company of former co-owner, John Dance, currently shut down and under investigation.
It was believed the horse would be able to take his chance in the big race after Dance was removed as co-owner, with the horse due to run in the name of Bryan Drew.
But the BHA announced in a statement on Wednesday evening: “In light of new information, including a court order, provided to the BHA on Wednesday 12 April by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) Bravemansgame is no longer able to take part in the race and has been withdrawn.
“The BHA will continue to liaise with the FCA and other affected parties.”
The situation is totally beyond the control of Nicholls, who had been excited to run the top-class eight-year-old in the race he has won six times.
He told Betfair: “Obviously disappointed by the course of events that led up to us not being able to run him but that’s out of my hands and I can’t really say any more than that.
“It’s just bitterly disappointing.”
The late withdrawal of the Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up leaves just five left in contention, with the market headed by Shishkin and A Plus Tard.
Champion trainer Nicholls, who has won the Bowl for the last two years with Clan Des Obeaux, has been left without a runner in the £250,000 race.
It remains unclear who made the decision to remove multi-millionaire Dance, 48, as the co-owner of the Paul Nicholls-trained eight-year-old, who has won more than half a million quid in prize money.
Since WealthTek, which also has the trading names of Malloch Melville and Vertem Asset Management, was shut down Dance has not had any runners.
He employs James Horton as his private trainer from Manor House Farm Stables in Middleham, but the young handler does not have any new entries for the owner.
Dance, who is also a DJ in his spare time, has had a huge amount of success as an owner.
His brilliant filly Laurens won six Group 1 races on the Flat during her career, banking over £1.7million in prize-money.
He is also the sponsor of a Group 1 race at Doncaster, namely the Vertem Futurity Trophy, as well as the Eider Chase at Newcastle.
WealthTek was ordered to stop all regulated activity a week ago and special administrators were ordered in last Thursday following the discovery of “serious regulatory and operational issues” by the FCA.
A special administration is classified by the FCA as “a modified insolvency procedure for certain investment firms”.
