Ante-post favourite Blaklion headlines 105 excellent entries for the £1-million Randox Health Grand National at Aintree on Saturday, April 14th - the 171st running .
Last year's fourth Blaklion, one of six entries for dual Grand National-winning trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies, looked as good as ever on his latest start as he powered to a nine-length victory over The Last Samuri (Kim Bailey, 20/1 with Betway) in the Grade 3 Randox Health Becher Handicap Chase (3m 2f) over the Grand National fences on December 9th. He is the 10/1 favourite with Betway, official betting partner of the Randox Health Grand National Festival.
Ireland's champion jump trainer Willie Mullins accounts for 10 of the 40 Irish-trained entries, with his double handful headed by Ladbrokes Trophy victor Total Recall (25/1), Polidam (40/1) and promising novice Rathvinden (40/1).
Mullins' big rival in Ireland, Gordon Elliott, landed the Grand National with Silver Birch (2007) in his first season with a training license. Elliott also has a 10-strong team which features Troytown Handicap Chase victor Mala Beach (50/1) and Grade 1 winner Outlander (right).
Grade 1 winner Outlander (right)
Despite his anger with the treatment of his horses by the British handicapper last season, Outlander is one of 11 possible contenders for owner Michael O'Leary's Gigginstown House Stud, successful with Rule The World in 2016, while J P McManus' seven entries include last year's runner-up Cause Of Causes (Gordon Elliott, 25/1), Grade 1 Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup second Minella Rocco (Jonjo O'Neill, 66/1) and Paddy Power Handicap Chase victor Anibale Fly (33/1). McManus saw his famous colours carried to success in the 2010 Grand National by Don't Push It.
The Last Samuri, who was second to Rule The World in the 2016 Grand National, finished an excellent fourth behind likely top-weight Definitly Red (Brian Ellison, 20/1) in the Grade 2 BetBright Trial Cotswold Chase on Saturday.
Twiston-Davies is the only current trainer to have won the Grand National more than once. His 2018 entries also include multiple Grade 1 winner Bristol De Mai (25/1), also a candidate for top-weight, BetVictor Gold Cup hero Splash Of Ginge (50/1) and Aintree Grade 1 scorer Flying Angel (66/1).
Britain's champion Jump trainer Nicky Henderson has three contenders in Gold Present (25/1), Vyta Du Roc (33/1) and O O Seven (66/1) as he seeks a first victory in the Randox Health Grand National.
Worcestershire handler Dr Richard Newland, who tasted Grand National glory with Pineau De Re in 2014, has another eye-catching Irish import among the entries in the Abolitionist (40/1).
Other Grand National-winning trainers with 2018 entries include Mouse Morris, who has Irish Grand National scorers Rogue Angel (50/1) and Thunder And Roses (40/1) among his three entries.
Welsh Grand National hero Raz De Maree (Gavin Cromwell IRE, 40/1) is engaged, as is impressive Grade 3 Classic Handicap Chase victor Milansbar (Neil King, 50/1).
Randox Health Grand National - latest odds from Betway:
10/1 Blaklion, 20/1 Minella Rocco, The Last Samuri, Definitly Red
25/1 Gold Present, Cause Of Causes, Vicente, Total Recall, Bristol De Mai, 33/1 As De Mee, Vyta Du Roc, Ucello Conti, Carole's Destrier, Vieux Lion Rouge, Go Conquer, Gas Line Boy, Anibale Fly, Poormans Hill, 40/1 Cogry, Childrens List, Delusionofgrandeur, Double Ross, Sub Lieutenant, Outlander, Pleasant Company, Polidam, Bellshill, A Genie In Abottle, Vintage Clouds, Warriors Tale, Henri Parry Morgan, Rathvinden, The Dutchman, American, Thunder And Roses, Wild West Wind, Three Faces West, Raz De Maree, Abolitionist, Chase The Spud, The Young Master, Saint Are, Acapella Bourgeois 50/1 Wounded Warrior, I Just Know, Noble Endeavor, Tiger Roll, Out Sam, Final Nudge, Mala Beach, Pendra, Splash Of Ginge, Buywise, Bravissimo, Vieux Morvan, Beeves, Arbre De Vie, Valseur Lido, Regal Encore, Sizing Codelco, Road To Riches, Rock The Kasbah, Rogue Angel, Milansbar, Sametegal, Seeyouatmidnight, Sir Mangan, Silsol
THE RANDOX HEALTH GRAND NATIONAL
Grade 3 handicap chase, £1 million total prize fund. Aintree, 5.15pm Saturday, April 14, 2018. 4m 2f 74yds over the Grand National fences. For seven-year-olds and upwards. Weights revealed February 13. Maximum field of 40 plus four reserves.
Horse Age Owner Trainer
A GENIE IN ABOTTLE (IRE) 7 Gigginstown House Stud Noel Meade IRE
ABOLITIONIST (IRE) 10 M Albon, J A Provan & C E Stedman Dr Richard Newland
ACAPELLA BOURGEOIS (FR) 8 Slaneyville Syndicate Willie Mullins IRE
ALFIE SPINNER (IRE) 13 Alan Beard & Brian Beard Kerry Lee
ALPHA DES OBEAUX (FR) 8 Gigginstown House Stud Mouse Morris IRE
AMERICAN (FR) 8 The Jago Family Partnership Harry Fry
ANIBALE FLY (FR) 8 J P McManus Tony Martin IRE
ARBRE DE VIE (FR) 8 Susannah Ricci Willie Mullins IRE
AS DE MEE (FR) 8 The Stewart Family & Judi Dench Paul Nicholls
BAIE DES ILES (FR) 7 Mrs Z Wentworth Ross O'Sullivan IRE
BALLYALTON (IRE) 11 John Westwood Ian Williams
BEEVES (IRE) 11 Paul & Clare Rooney Jennie Candlish
BELLSHILL (IRE) 8 Andrea & Graham Wylie Willie Mullins IRE
BLAKLION 9 S Such & C G Paletta Nigel Twiston-Davies
BLESS THE WINGS (IRE) 13 Adrian Butler/S P O'Connor Gordon Elliott IRE
BONNY KATE (IRE) 8 Patricia Hunt Noel Meade IRE
BRAQUEUR D'OR (FR) 7 Corsellis & Seyfried Paul Nicholls
BRAVISSIMO (FR) 7 Susannah Ricci Willie Mullins IRE
BRISTOL DE MAI (FR) 7 Simon Munir & Isaac Souede Nigel Twiston-Davies
BUYWISE (IRE) 11 T Hywel Jones Evan Williams
CAPTAIN REDBEARD (IRE) 9 Stuart Coltherd Stuart Coltherd
CARLINGFORD LOUGH (IRE) 12 J P McManus John Kiely IRE
CAROLE'S DESTRIER 10 Mrs C Skipworth Neil Mulholland
CAUSE OF CAUSES (USA) 10 J P McManus Gordon Elliott IRE
CHASE THE SPUD 10 Mrs C Banks Fergal O'Brien
CHILDRENS LIST (IRE) 8 Susannah Ricci Willie Mullins IRE
COGRY 9 Graham and Alison Jelley Nigel Twiston-Davies
DANCING SHADOW (IRE) 9 The Dancing Shadows Victor Dartnall
DEFINITLY RED (IRE) 9 Phil & Julie Martin Brian Ellison
DELUSIONOFGRANDEUR (IRE) 8 McGoldrick Racing 3 Sue Smith
DOUBLE ROSS (IRE) 12 Options O Syndicate Nigel Twiston-Davies
EDWULF 9 J P McManus Joseph O'Brien IRE
FINAL NUDGE (IRE) 9 Corbett Stud David Dennis
FLYING ANGEL (IRE) 7 R J Rexton Nigel Twiston-Davies
GAS LINE BOY (IRE) 12 The Three Graces Ian Williams
GENERAL PRINCIPLE (IRE) 9 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
GO CONQUER (IRE) 9 Paul & Clare Rooney Jonjo O'Neill
GOLD PRESENT (IRE) 8 John & Barbara Cotton Nicky Henderson
GOODTOKNOW 10 Burling Lee MacEchern Nolan Potter Kerry Lee
HENRI PARRY MORGAN 10 Ednyfed & Elizabeth Morgan Peter Bowen
HOUBLON DES OBEAUX (FR) 11 Mrs Julian Blackwell Venetia Williams
I JUST KNOW (IRE) 8 M B Scholey & The Late R H Scholey Sue Smith
KNOCK HOUSE (IRE) 9 Tim Leslie Donald McCain
KRACKATOA KING 10 J C Harrison Lee & T Howard Partnership Kerry Lee
LONG HOUSE HALL (IRE) 10 Carl Hinchy Dan Skelton
LORD WINDERMERE (IRE) 12 Dr Ronan Lambe Jim Culloty IRE
MAGGIO (FR) 13 Douglas Pryde/James Beaumont Patrick Griffin IRE
MALA BEACH (IRE) 10 Chris Jones Gordon Elliott IRE
MILANSBAR (IRE) 11 Robert Bothway Neil King
MINELLA DADDY (IRE) 8 Roddy Owen & Paul Fullagar Peter Bowen
MINELLA ROCCO (IRE) 8 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill
MISSED APPROACH (IRE) 8 Alan & Andrew Turner Warren Greatrex
MORNING ASSEMBLY (IRE) 11 Clipper Logistics Group Ltd Pat Fahy IRE
MYSTEREE (IRE) 10 Lynne Maclennan Michael Scudamore
NOBLE ENDEAVOR (IRE) 9 Chris Jones Gordon Elliott IRE
O O SEVEN (IRE) 8 Christopher Hanbury Nicky Henderson
OUT SAM 9 D Charlesworth Gordon Elliott IRE
OUTLANDER (IRE) 10 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
PAIROFBROWNEYES (IRE) 9 Fibbage Syndicate Willie Mullins IRE
PENDRA (IRE) 10 J P McManus Charlie Longsdon
PERFECT CANDIDATE (IRE) 11 ISL Recruitment Fergal O'Brien
PHIL'S MAGIC (IRE) 8 Lyreen Syndicate Tony Martin IRE
PLEASANT COMPANY (IRE) 10 Malcolm C Denmark Willie Mullins IRE
POLIDAM (FR) 9 Simon Munir/Isaac Souede Willie Mullins IRE
POORMANS HILL (IRE) 7 V Caldwell/Mrs K Caldwell Gordon Elliott IRE
RATHVINDEN (IRE) 10 Ronnie Bartlett Willie Mullins IRE
RAZ DE MAREE (FR) 13 James J Swan Gavin Cromwell IRE
REGAL ENCORE (IRE) 10 J P McManus Anthony Honeyball
RELENTLESS DREAMER (IRE) 9 Nigel Morris Rebecca Curtis
ROAD TO RICHES (IRE) 11 Gigginstown House Stud Noel Meade IRE
ROCK THE KASBAH (IRE) 8 Diana Whateley Philip Hobbs
ROGUE ANGEL (IRE) 10 Gigginstown House Stud Mouse Morris IRE
SAINT ARE (FR) 12 David Fox Tom George
SAMETEGAL (FR) 9 John & Barbara Cotton Paul Nicholls
SEEYOUATMIDNIGHT 10 Mrs A M Thomson Sandy Thomson
SHANTOU FLYER (IRE) 8 Carl Hinchy Richard Hobson
SILSOL (GER) 9 Michelle And Dan Macdonald Paul Nicholls
SIR MANGAN (IRE) 10 Frank McAleavy Dan Skelton
SIZING CODELCO (IRE) 9 Ann & Alan Potts Limited Colin Tizzard
SPLASH OF GINGE 10 Jim Neild Nigel Twiston-Davies
SUB LIEUTENANT (IRE) 9 Gigginstown House Stud Henry de Bromhead IRE
TENOR NIVERNAIS (FR) 11 Boultbee Brooks Ltd Venetia Williams
THE DUTCHMAN (IRE) 8 SprayClad UK Colin Tizzard
THE LAST SAMURI (IRE) 10 Paul & Clare Rooney Kim Bailey
THE YOUNG MASTER 9 Mike Burbidge & The Old Masters Neil Mulholland
THEBARROWMAN (IRE) 8 D Keys Adrian Keatley IRE
THIRD INTENTION (IRE) 11 Robert and Sarah Tizzard Colin Tizzard
THREE FACES WEST (IRE) 10 Paul & Clare Rooney Philip Hobbs
THUNDER AND ROSES (IRE) 10 Gigginstown House Stud Mouse Morris IRE
TIGER ROLL (IRE) 8 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
TOTAL RECALL (IRE) 9 Slaneyville Syndicate Willie Mullins IRE
TRAFFIC FLUIDE (FR) 8 Galloping On The South Downs Partnership Gary Moore
UCELLO CONTI (FR) 10 Simon Munir/Isaac Souede Gordon Elliott IRE
VALSEUR LIDO (FR) 9 Gigginstown House Stud Henry de Bromhead IRE
VIC DE TOUZAINE (FR) 9 A Brooks & G Moore Venetia Williams
VICENTE (FR) 9 Trevor Hemmings Paul Nicholls
VIEUX LION ROUGE (FR) 9 Prof Caroline Tisdall & John Gent David Pipe
VIEUX MORVAN (FR) 9 M L Bloodstock Joseph O'Brien IRE
VINTAGE CLOUDS (IRE) 8 Trevor Hemmings Sue Smith
VIRGILIO (FR) 9 C J Edwards, D Futter, A H Rushworth Dan Skelton
VYTA DU ROC (FR) 9 Simon Munir & Isaac Souede Nicky Henderson
WALK IN THE MILL (FR) 8 Baroness Harding Robert Walford
WARRIORS TALE 9 Michelle And Dan Macdonald Paul Nicholls
WILD WEST WIND (IRE) 9 Simon W Clarke Tom George
WOUNDED WARRIOR (IRE) 9 Gigginstown House Stud Noel Meade IRE
105 entries
40 Irish-trained