One-time leading fancy Edmond has been all but ruled out of the Martell Grand National at Aintree a week on Saturday.
Ground conditions at Liverpool next week are unlikely to be suitable for the winner of the Coral Welsh National.
Edmond's absence would leave trainer Henry Daly to be represented solely by the ante-post favourite Star Traveller.
"It looks extremely unlikely now that Edmond will be able to run," said Daly.
"I don't want to run him on good ground - he's a much better horse on soft but it doesn't look like we are going to get it.
"I will be talking to his owner Lady Knutsford on Sunday and will probably make an announcement on Monday."
In contrast to the philosophy of his old boss Tim Forster, Daly is up-beat about the chances of Star Traveller.
The late Forster was famously pessimistic about the National despite winning the race three times.
Before Ben Nevis' victory in 1980, Forster famously told his jockey "keep remounting".
Daly smiled: "All I'll be saying to my jockey is 'good luck and shut your eyes!'
"But I am more of a realist than a pessimist and if all goes to plan Star Traveller should run well.
"He's a good, consistent horse and the only time he has run badly was in the Charisma Chase at Kempton. I can't explain it, perhaps he had a headache.
"His price is set by the bookmakers and is nothing to do with me - whether he deserves to be those odds I don't know."
Star Traveller, partnered by his big-race jockey Richard Johnson, was this morning given his first serious work-out since finishing third in the William Hill Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
He looked on good terms with himself as he covered the stiff uphill all-weather gallop at Daly's Downton Hall Stables near Ludlow in company with Happy Hussar.
"He's already fit so there is no need to push him too much," said Daly. "He'll probably have a further work out at the weekend then one next Tuesday and that will be it."
Philip Hobbs is hoping to be double-handed in the Aintree spectacular.
The Minehead trainer, who sent out Samlee to finish third in the race in 1998, could be represented by Stormy Passage and Village King, although the former would not run if heavy rains arrive.
Hobbs said: "They're both fine. Village King will hopefully run but Stormy Passage wouldn't run if the ground was too soft - although that's looking unlikely at the moment.
"Good going would be fine but if it was soft we'd be worried about the trip."
Dual National-winning trainer Toby Balding has confirmed that Kendal Cavalier will take his place in the contest.
The gelding, winner of the Coral Welsh National at Chepstow last season for Nigel Hawke, finished seventh behind Bobbyjo at Liverpool last year.
Balding said today: "He's a definite runner, he will be ridden by Barry Fenton and he's in very good order."
"He's got 10st 6lb in the National and although he's not well-in it's a fair weight.
"We would want some rain for him but what he doesn't want is it firm."
Meanwhile there was a shock result in the virtual Grand National "run" at a Victor Chandler press conference in London.
The simulation fell to 50-1 chance Choisty, trained by Ted Haynes.
The Wiltshire trainer joked: "One of my sons said 'Very nice, they can send the cheque and we needn't bother to go up!'.
The gelding has fallen at Becher's in the last two runnings of the Aintree spectacular.
The trainer explained "Two years ago he came down at Becher's first time round, he landed very steep and toppled over.
"Last year he went at Becher's second time, there were three or four horses came down in front of him and it was a little bit debatable what happened.
"We've just to hope this year it's third-time lucky."
Ladbrokes today reported good support for last year's winner Bobbyjo and have clipped the gelding to 7-1 clear favourite from 8-1.
The other big mover was the Francois Doumen-trained Djeddah who is now 14-1 from 20s with the Harrow firm.
Latest Martell Grand National betting:
Coral: 8-1 Star Traveller, 9-1 Bobbyjo, 14-1 Betty's Boy, Micko's Dream, Young Kenny, 20-1 Cavalero, Djeddah, The Last Fling, 25-1 Dark Stranger, Niki Dee, Red Marauder, 28-1 Bar.
Ladbrokes: 7-1 Bobbyjo, 8-1 Star Traveller, 14-1 Betty's Boy, Djeddah, 16-1 Micko's Dream, Young Kenny, 20-1 Red Marauder, The Last Fling, Dark Stranger, Cavalero, 33-1 Bar.
William Hill: 8-1 Bobbyjo, Star Traveller, 14-1 Betty's Boy, Young Kenny, 16-1 Micko's Dream, 20-1 Cavalero, Edmond, The Last Fling, 25-1 Dark Stranger, Djeddah, Earthmover, Red Marauder, 33-1 Bar.
