With just over two weeks to go before the Martell Grand Nation-al, Aintree is living on a knife-edge.

At the moment the race is still on, but officials admitted last night that should there be an outbreak of foot and mouth in the vicinity they would have no hesitation in calling the three-day meeting off.

"We are very aware of the sensitivity of the situation," said Aintree managing director Char-les Barnett. "And we have every sympathy for the farming community in these difficult times.

"I live near Oswestry, where the first outbreak in 1967 started, so I know all about its effect on the community.

"But we also have a duty to the people of Merseyside and racing to run the race if at all possible.

"We have put disinfecting procedures in place and are taking every possible precaution. Ain-tree is in a built-up area surrounded by houses, not in the middle of the countryside.

"Having said that, if we found we came into an affected area the meeting would not take place."

Barnett also expressed concern about the possibility that horses from Ireland would not make the journey to Aintree in the wake of the ban on racing there.

There are currently 73 horses still declared for the race - nine more than at this stage last year - led by top weight Marlborough, trained by Nicky Henderson.

He has been allotted 11st 6lb, but the weights are due to go up by a minimum of 4lb and could go up by as much as 9lb if the Irish horses do not enter.

Last year's winner Papillon is still entered, along with stablemate Commanche Court, but Irish trainer Ted Walsh will be keeping a careful eye on advice about the foot and mouth outbreak.