BHA won’t let O’Leary get his way on weights

THE British Horseracing Authority’s senior handicapper has vowed his feud with Irish owner Michael O’Leary will not impact on the Randox Health Grand National weights — which are unveiled tonight. Phil Smith has been accused by the Ryanair boss of treating his horses harshly and O’Leary pulled his three highest-rated entries — including ante-post favourite Outlander — out of last year’s National. O’Leary has threatened to withdraw the best of his 11 entries again if he feels Smith — who retires in May — has hit them too hard in the weights. But asked if he felt intimidated, Smith said: ‘No. I get on with the job, take each horse on its merits and give a weight I think gives it a chance.’ With 2017 Aintree hero One For Arthur sidelined, the chances of a second successive National winner from Scotland appear to lie with Sandy Thomson’s See you at midnight. He returns from injury at Kelso on March 3. Blaklion, 10-1 favourite for the race, will run in the Betfred National Trial at Haydock on Saturday.