THE Grand National is only two weeks away and last year’s winner Tiger Roll is as low as 7/2 favourite as he heads 81 hopefuls standing their ground following the latest acceptance stage.

Gordon Elliott’s remarkable nine-year-old won the Cross Country Chase for the second year running at Cheltenham last week and has been confirmed on course for Liverpool on April 6th.

Tiger Roll is currently set to carry 11st 1lb, just 2lbs more than last year as he bids to become the first horse since Red Rum in 1974 to win back-to-back Nationals.

Pleasant Company, only beaten a head by Tiger Roll last spring, is one of seven left in by Willie Mullins, whose team also includes Rathvinden and Pairofbrowneyes.

The top two in the handicap, Bristol De Mai and Anibale Fly, remain on course after finishing third and second respectively in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

David Pipe, who saddled Comply Or Die to Grand National glory in 2008, is triple-handed with Ramses De Teillee, Daklondike and Vieux Lion Rouge. “All three of them would prefer the ground on the softer side,” he said.

Elegant Escape was the most notable of 16 withdrawals. The Welsh Grand National winner, trained by Colin Tizzard, was sixth in the Gold Cup. Tizzard has also taken out Royal Vacation, leaving dual Topham Chase winner Ultragold as the stable’s only representative. Other horses removed from the race were Edwulf, Black Corton, American, Traffic Fluide, Sizing Codelco, Total Recall, Master Dee, The Last Samuri, Some Neck, Give Me A Copper, Willie Boy, Ballyhill, Ballydine and Back To The Thatch.