ALAN King has vowed not to run West End Rocker over the Grand National fences again after the Becher Chase winner failed to end the season on a high at Sandown.
The 10-year-old was pulled up in the bet365 Gold Cup on Saturday, two weeks after he fell at the second fence in the John Smith's Grand National.
"Aintree had clearly left its mark, and Wayne (Hutchinson) said that the horse did not even want to go down to the start at Sandown," the Barbury Castle trainer told alankingracing.co.uk.
"Granted, he won a Becher Chase over the big fences, but you never know how much running in a National has taken out of a horse until you roll the dice again.
"We live and learn at this game, and one thing is certain and that is that 'Rocker' will not be going anywhere near Aintree again.
"He will have a good summer off, and there are plenty of other good staying chases around for him. He loves Newbury and Warwick and seems to perform best on left-handed flat tracks."
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