The 2019 Randox Health Grand National has attracted a very strong entry of 112 horses, including a record 47 trained in Ireland.

This year sees the 172nd running of the great Aintree chase.

Gordon Elliott gained his second Grand National victory in 2018 when Tiger Roll held on by a head from the fast-finishing Pleasant Company. Tiger Roll bids to become the first horse since Red Rum in 1973-1974 to win back-to-back renewals.

Co Meath-based Elliott, also successful with Silver Birch in 2007, is the trainer with most entries in 2019, with a total of 22 horses engaged.

His contingent also contains last year's third Bless The Wings, recent Thyestes Chase runner-up Alpha Des Obeaux, the 2018 Irish Grand National hero General Principle and last season's Thyestes Chase scorer Monbeg Notorious, plus Grade 1 winners Outlander and Shattered Love).

There are two other National winners among the Elliott-trained contingent Out Sam, who took the Cork Grand National in October, and Jury Duty, successful in the Grade 1 Grand National Hurdle at Far Hills, USA, in October.

MULLINS TEAM

In addition to Pleasant Company, Willie Mullins has nine other contenders to choose from. These include last season's Irish Grand National runner-up Isleofhopendreams, 2018 Leinster National winner Pairofbrowneyes and Rathvinden.

Some Neck, Thyestes Chase third Up For Review and Total Recall, winner of the valuable Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury in 2017, also feature among the ten entries from the Co Carlow handler.

The most successful British current trainer in the Randox Health Grand National is Gloucestershire-based Nigel Twiston-Davies. Twiston-Davies is the best-represented British trainer in 2019 with nine entries. These are headed by Go Conquer, who put up a good performance to win the valuable Listed Sky Bet Chase at Doncaster on January 26th.

Twiston-Davies' entries also include the high-class Bristol De Mai, successful in the latest two renewals of the Grade 1 Betfair Chase at Haydock Park, as well as 2017 Randox Health Becher Chase winner Blaklion and Ballyoptic, second in last season's Grade 3 Scottish Grand National.

Twiston-Davies said: "Go Conquer came out of the Sky Bet Chase well.

"It was a really good performance at Doncaster and we have always thought a lot of him.

"The ground was in his favour up there and the trip suited, so everything went well for him.

"Go Conquer jumps and stays well. He has been entered in the Grand National and I think that is something we will consider.

NATIONAL HERO

The 2017 Grand National went to One For Arthur (Lucinda Russell, 33/1), who became only the second winner of the Aintree spectacular to be trained in Scotland after Rubstic (1979).

He missed last season and unseated Tom Scudamore on his seasonal reappearance in the Grade 2 Betway Many Clouds Chase at Aintree on December 8th and parted company with his Grand National-winning jockey Derek Fox last time out in the Grade 2 Peter Marsh Handicap Chase at Haydock Park on January 19th.

Russell, who trains the horse for the Two Golf Widows, reported: "One For Arthur is in good form.

"He has been fine since Haydock and he will either run again at Haydock in the Grand National Trial (February 16th) or go to Kelso. We are yet to make a decision.

"Obviously, the long-term plan is to return to Aintree in April."

Weights for the Randox Health Grand National will be unveiled at the Cunard Building in Liverpool on Tuesday, February 12th.

Breakdown of entries by trainer

22 ENTRIES

Gordon Elliott - A Toi Phil, Alpha des Obeaux, Bless The Wings, Blow By Blow, Borice, Don Poli, Dounikos, Folsom Blue, General Principle, Jury Duty, Mala Beach, Measureofmydreams, Monbeg Notorious, Ned Stark, Noble Endeavor, Out Sam, Outlander, Rogue Angel, Shattered Love, The Storyteller, Tiger Roll, Woods Well

TEN ENTRIES

Willie Mullins - Acapella Bourgeois, Isleofhopendreams, Livelovelaugh, Pairofbrowneyes, Pleasant Company, Polidam, Rathvinden, Some Neck, Total Recall, Up For Review

NINE ENTRIES

Nigel Twiston-Davies – Ballyarthur, Ballyhill, Ballyoptic, Blaklion, Bristol de Mai, Calett Mad, Cogry, Go Conquer, Splash of Ginge

FIVE ENTRIES

David Pipe – Daklondike, Ramses de Teillee, Rathlin Rose, Van Gogh du Granit, Vieux Lion Rouge

Colin Tizzard - Elegant Escape, Royal Vacation, Sizing Codelco, The Dutchman, Ultragold

FOUR ENTRIES

Neil Mulholland - Carole's Destrier, Impulsive Star, Shantou Village, The Young Master

THREE ENTRIES

Paul Nicholls - Black Corton, Give Me A Copper, Warriors Tale

TWO ENTRIES

Henry de Bromhead - Sub Lieutenant, Valseur Lido

Harry Fry – American, The Last Samuri

Jessica Harrington - Magic of Light, Sandymount Duke

Nicky Henderson - Kilcrea Vale, Valtor

Anthony Honeyball - Ms Parfois, Regal Encore

Charlie Longsdon – Ballydine, Willie Boy

James Moffatt- Highland Lodge, Just A Par

Joseph O'Brien – Edwulf, Vieux Morvan

Ross O'Sullivan - Baie des Iles , Call It Magic

ONE ENTRY

Nick Alexander - Lake View Lad

Enda Bolger - Auvergnat

Mark Bradstock - Step Back

Stuart Coltherd - Captain Redbeard

Rebecca Curtis - Joe Farrell

Henry Daly - Back To The Thatch

Philip Dempsey - Mr Diablo

Tom George - Singlefarmpayment

Warren Greatrex - Missed Approach

Philip Hobbs - Rock The Kasbah

Richard Hobson - Allysson Monterg

Patrick Kelly - Mall Dini

Alan King - Ziga Boy

Neil King - Milansbar

Sophie Leech - Lieutenant Colonel

Charlie Mann - Morney Wing

Tony Martin - Anibale Fly

Graeme McPherson - Skipthecuddles

Phil Middleton - Exitas

Gary Moore - Traffic Fluide

Thomas Mullins -Scoir Mear

Dr Richard Newland - Abolitionist

Fergal O'Brien - Master Dee

Eoghan O'Grady - Westerner Point

Gearoid O'Loughlin - Jarob

Jonjo O'Neill - Minella Rocco

Nicky Richards - Looking Well

Lucinda Russell - One For Arthur

Michael Scuadmore - Kingswell Theatre

Sue Smith - Vintage Clouds

Jamie Snowden - Fact of The Matter

Robert Walford - Walk In The Mill

Christian Williams - Potters Corner

Ian Williams - Red Infantry

Jane Williams - Tea For Two

Venetia Williams - Yala Enki