"He was then due to go for a scan on Monday so I said fine, we’ll postpone the schooling until Tuesday but on Monday he rang me saying he was still unable to school because he had not improved that much.

"At that stage he was hopeful he would ride at the weekend, but I thought I had better get a substitute on standby. Hence I got Wayne in to school the horse and he got on very well with him.

"On Tuesday evening Dominic said he was hoping to ride on Friday but he was only going to have a couple of rides, so I took the view that I couldn’t take the risk.

"There is only one Grand National and I have to make a decision that is in the best interests of the horse and the owner.

"If Dominic had ridden the horse before it would be a completely different equation but he hadn’t, so I had to think do I take someone who is fit and has ridden the horse, or someone who has never ridden the horse, isn’t fit enough to be riding at declaration time and has to pass to doctor on Friday?

"If things went against Dominic on Friday, I am left with a fancied runner in the National but no jockey.

"It’s incredibly bad luck on Dominic and I feel very sorry for him. Of course he is going to want to ride it and of course he is going to think he’s fit, but as the captain of the ship, I have to make the best decision I can on behalf of the crew."

Elsworth was understandably disappointed with the news, saying: "I took a phone call last night from Charles Egerton who said I couldn’t ride the horse.

"He said they didn’t know whether I would make it back or not. I’m gutted because I turned down two other rides in the race.

"I’m fit and I’m booked to ride for Lucy Wadham at Aintree on Friday."

Hutchinson admits he feels sorry for his colleague and actually rang the displaced jockey this morning.

Hutchinson said: "He’s a very good friend and of course I feel for him. The horse schooled really well when I rode him and obviously I’m very excited.

"I had my first ever Cheltenham Festival winner on Oh Crick last month and now I’m really looking forward to Saturday."