Willie Mullins assault on a first British trainers championship has gathered pace after the powerhouse Irish trainer earmarked a number of his Cheltenham superstars for the Crabbies Grand National meeting at Aintree next week. Champion Hurdle winner Annie Power is set for the Doom Bar Aintree Hurdle on the opening afternoon, along with Nichols Canyon, while Gold Cup third Don Poli is heading for the Betfred Bowl on the same card.Ryanair Chase victor Vautour is in line for the Melling Chase 24 hours later, with brilliant Arkle Trophy hero Douvan pencilled in for the Doom Bar Maghull Novices Chase on National day. Mullins, who trails Paul Nicholls in the title race by just over #150,000, said: We will be bringing a lot of our horses to Aintree, and I just hope we get a bit of rain before then. Annie Power and Nichols Canyon both appear to be in good form and could run in the Aintree Hurdle.Vautour may go for the two-and-a-half-mile race and Don Poli over three miles and one. Black Hercules will be entered, Douvan could go there. They have all had it easy since Cheltenham.He went on: Id be keen to run Footpad and Apples Jade and maybe Lets Dance will go as well in the juvenile race.Well have them entered and do a few little bits of work and if they all appear to be fine theyll run.But one horse not making the journey to Liverpool is Sky Bet Supreme Novices Hurdle runner-up Min, with Mullins ruling him out for the rest of the campaign.He said: One horse that wont be going is Min. He hasnt come out of Cheltenham well and he wont run for the rest of the season.It will be hard to catch Paul Nicholls but well give it a go! Sky Racing Tickets Fast, secure racing tickets: Exclusive racing offers near you Also See: Live results service Full racecards ￡10 free bet Get Sky Sports Joe Smith Astros Jersey . - Gary Kubiak is John Elways No. Cesar Cedeno Jersey . Brandon Morrow allowed five runs on six hits over three innings. 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At a ceremony inside the stadium, the team thanked its loyal followers -- the 12th Man -- capping a day of boisterous celebration that drew an estimated 700,000 revelers to Seattle.BARCELONA, Spain -- Real Madrid forwards Gareth Bale and Jese Rodriguez each scored and set up goals for Karim Benzema in a 4-2 win over Villarreal on Saturday, giving the powerhouse a share of the Spanish league lead after Atletico Madrid stumbled to a 2-0 loss at Almeria. With leading scorer Cristiano Ronaldo serving the first of a three-game suspension, Bale stepped up by opening in the seventh minute at the Santiago Bernabeu before he crossed for Benzemas first goal in the 25th. After Villarreals Mario Gaspar struck in the 43rd, Jese took what proved to be Madrids winner in the 64th before Villarreal forward Giovani Dos Santos curled in a free kick in the 69th. Jese found Benzema for his double in the 76th. If any Madrid supporters were worried how their team would fare without Ronaldo and his league-leading 22 goals, they neednt have as Carlo Ancelottis side extended its unbeaten streak to 23 games in all competitions. Instead of struggling, Benzema recorded his 12th and 13th league goals, Bale provided more arguments he was worthy of his world-record transfer, and the 20-year-old Jese gave Madrids fans more hope they have finally found their next homegrown star. "Its great to be back on the pitch and get a goal and an assist as well," Bale, who had missed two games with a leg injury, said. "(Cristiano) is obviously missed. He is the worlds best player. We knew we had to do the job without him." Also, Valencia rolled over bottom-side Real Betis 5-0 as it continued to show its turnaround under coach Juan Pizzi, while Rayo Vallecano broke a run of six home losses by humbling 10-man Malaga 4-1 to move to within two points of safety. Atletico failed to rebound from its 3-0 Copa del Rey defeat at Madrid on Wednesday as it lost for just the second time in 23 league matches in this campaign. It has dropped seven points in the last five rounds. Almeria stifled its attack and a pair of mistakes by back-up goalkeeper Daniel Aranzubia, starting for the injured Thibaut Courtois, doomed Diego Simeones side. After Almeria forward Aleix Vidals shot came off both posts, Aranzubia llet Jose "Verza" Garcias cross fall over his head in the 80th.dddddddddddd The veteran goalie compounded that in the 86th by losing the ball to Jonathan Zongos pressure and earning a questionable red card as he dove to recover the ball. Verza slotted the spot kick past midfielder Gabi Fernandez, who had to defend the net with all three changes already made. To make matters worse, Atletico midfielder Tiago Cardoso was carried off with a leg injury after he received a hard tackle midway through the second half. "We dont look for excuses," Simeone said. "The only way we know how to continue forward in the same fashion that got us here is to keep on working. What concerns me most about today is Tiago." Barcelona trails Atletico and Madrid by three points before it visits Sevilla on Sunday. Bale seemed particularly eager to take charge with Ronaldo out, and he was helped to start the scoring by defender Jose Dorados bad decision-making and even poorer execution. Dorado unwisely tried to dribble around Bale instead of passing to a nearby teammate. The Wales winger pounced on his clumsy touch to steal the ball, press forward unchallenged, and coolly chip helpless goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo. Bale then used a burst of speed to leave behind Jaume Costa on the right flank before crossing for Benzema, whose short-range volley hit Asenjo before landing in the net. Villarreal, however, didnt wilt and Gaspar drilled the ball inside the far corner of the goalframe to halve the deficit before halftime. Madrid lost left back Marcelo to injury when he gingerly walked off the pitch in the 18th, and his replacement, Fabio Coentrao, didnt return after halftime, apparently due to injury. Alvaro Arbeloa took his place. Jese ran onto Angel Di Marias incisive pass before he slipped the ball around Asenjo with a sly touch using the outside of his right boot to make it 3-1. Again Villarreal wasnt done, and Dos Santos bent his left-footed free kick over the barrier, but Jese steered a Madrid counterattack before squaring for Benzema to fire home and secure the three points. ' ' 'sion not to be taken lightly. However, after much thought I feel very strongly its the right one." "As Ive stated many times, all decisions I make will be in the long-term best interest of the Carolina Panthers. Decisions, either popular or unpopular, have to be made for the greater good and it is imperative to take an unemotional global view. Sometimes it may appear that short term interests will suffer, and I can assure you we have no interest in taking a step back from our 2013 accomplishments." The Panthers also lost wide receivers Domenik Hixon and Ted Ginn Jr. to free agency on Thursday. Hixon signed with the Chicago Bears and Ginn with the Arizona Cardinals. Panthers cornerback Captain Munnerlyn told The Associated Press he has signed with the Minnesota Vikings for a deal that could pay him $15 million over three years with incentives.dddddddddddd One possible replacement at wide receiver is free agent Hakeem Nicks, a Charlotte native who played for New York Giants. The Smith move marks the end of an era for the Panthers. Smith joined the team as a third-round draft pick out of Utah in 2001. He made an immediate impact in the NFL, returning the opening kickoff of the season for a touchdown against the Vikings. He became the first Panthers rookie selected to the Pro Bowl, earning that honour as a return specialist. Known for his feisty behaviour on the field, Smith became a dominant receiver over the next 12 seasons. He is Carolinas all-time leader with 75 total touchdowns and has 836 receptions for 12,197 yards. "On the football field Steve had a competitive arrogance that (was) second to none -- second to none," said former Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme in a telephone interview. "That helped him be as good as he was. He made other guys step up their game. But off the field he was totally different. He loves his wife and his family. Hes a genuinely good person with a great heart." Panthers coach Ron Rivera said in the release: "He is a great competitor with Hall of Fame-worthy statistics and has made a great contribution to our community." Fox said Smith would have welcomed a chance to move inside to slot receiver, but the team never offered him that opportunity. As productive as Smith was, his fiery personality often rubbed people the wrong way, and some viewed him as a distraction in the locker room. Smith had run-ins with teammates on at least two occasions. He punched out fellow wide receiver Anthony Bright in a film room fight and later socked cornerback Ken Lucas on the field during a practice at training camp in Spartanburg, S.C. On both occasions, Smith was suspended by the team. Delhomme said that was a "humbling experience" for Smith, who apologized to Lucas and the teams fans after the incident. Despite the two incidents, Smith was immensely popular with the fan base, in large part due to his production on the field. He also worked hard to change his public image over the last several years and has been an active member of the Charlotte community. When asked if he was surprised Smith was released, Delhomme said, "It does surprise, but thats the NFL. I mean, look, Peyton Manning plays for the Denver Broncos -- that the way it goes." NOTES: Panthers backup quarterback Derek Anderson announced Thursday on Twitter he has re-signed with Carolina for a fourth season. Anderson tweeted: "Happy to be coming back to Charlotte next season!" ' ' '