Ante-post favourite Corach Rambler heads a full field of 40 for Saturday’s Randox Grand National at Aintree.
Derek Fox has been declared to ride the dual Ultima Chase winner after recovering from a minor injury, with the jockey and trainer Lucinda Russell bidding for a second National success following One For Arthur’s triumph in 2017.
Next best in the betting is Delta Work, who is one of six contenders in the final field for trainer Gordon Elliott. The Cullentra House handler also fields the Davy Russell-ridden Galvin, Fury Road, Coko Beach, Escaria Ten and Dunboyne.
Last year’s victor Noble Yeats defends his title for Emmet Mullins, with Sean Bowen in the plate this time after Sam Waley-Cohen famously retired on passing the Aintree winning post 12 months ago.
Willie Mullins’ five-strong strong team is headed by Gaillard Du Mesnil – a last-gasp winner of the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham – with Capodanno, Mr Incredible, Carefully Selected and Recite A Prayer also in the line up.
Paul Townend has opted to ride Gaillard Du Mesnil with leading conditional Michael O’Sullivan handed his first Grand National assignment aboard Carefully Selected.
The field is dominated by Irish-trained contenders with Any Second Now, The Big Dog, Longhouse Poet, Lifetime Ambition and Vanillier other prominent challengers. Aside from Corach Rambler, only the Dan Skelton-trained Le Milos is shorter than 20-1 to keep the prize in Britain this time around.
Other home-trained hopes include The Big Breakaway for Joe Tizzard, Mister Coffey from Nicky Henderson’s yard and Back On The Lash, a winner over Cheltenham’s cross-country course for trainer Martin Keighley. The last horse to make the cut for the race is Born By The Sea.
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