LAST year’s Irish Grand National winner Shutthefrontdoor is as low as 9/1 favourite for the Crabbie’s Grand National as bookmakers fear an avalanche of bets for the horse they believe will be A.P. McCoy’s final mount in the Aintree spectacular.

Trained by Jonjo O’Neill, Shutthefrontdoor has only had one start since his Fairyhouse triumph last April. That outing was in Carlisle last November and, after winning well, the Accordion gelding was talked about as a possible Gold Cup contender. However, connections decided to withdraw the horse from the Cheltenham feature last week while stressing that the horse was in good form and likely to have an outing “somewhere” before Aintree.

The momentum behind Shutthefrontdoor continued at this week’s publication of the Grand National weights. After the horse was allocated 11st 2lb, O’Neill said: “Shutthefrontdoor is in grand form. He had an abscess after he ran at Carlisle where the ground was really bad. He is in great order and seems to be going the right way.”

Obvious option

In a recorded interview, McCoy said: “I have no idea what I will be riding this year. Shutthefrontdoor is clearly the most obvious option but Carlingford Lough is in there too and I am not sure what route they will take.”

Carlingford Lough and Lord Windermere have been jointly-allotted top-weight of 11st 10lb for the £1 million National on Saturday, April 11th. The National is the only handicap of the year in which the British Horseracing Authority’s head of handicapping Phil Smith has absolute discretion over the weights and can deviate from the normal handicap ratings.

As a result, Carlingford Lough will be able to run off a mark of 161, despite having an official rating of 166 following his Hennessy Gold Cup success at Leopardstown earlier this month.

Oliver Sherwood’s Many Clouds has been given 11st 9lb, while champion trainer Paul Nicholls has four entries near the top of the weights - Sam Winner (11st 8lb), Unioniste (11st 6lb), Rocky Creek (11st 3lb) and Rolling Aces (11st 3lb). The Somerset handler is also responsible for Rebel Rebellion (10st 12lb), Mon Parrain (10st 11lb) and Benvolio (10st 8lb).

Nicky Henderson is yet to win the National and his two entries, Rajdhani Express and Hadrian’s Approach, have been given 11st 4lb and 11st respectively.

Pineau De Re (Dr Richard Newland), bidding to become the first horse since Red Rum to win back-to-back Grand Nationals, has 11st (10st 6lb in 2014), while last year’s runner-up Balthazar King (Philip Hobbs) has been handed 11st 2lb (10st 13lb in 2014).

Boston Bob on 11st 7lb has the most weight of Willie Mullins’ four entries. Ireland’s champion trainer, successful with Hedgehunter in 2005, is also responsible for Back In Focus (10st 13lb), Ballycasey (10st 13lb) and leading hunter chaser Prince De Beauchene (10st 6lb).

Gordon Elliott won the National at the first attempt with Silver Birch in 2007. His three entries are topped by Grade 2-winning chaser Roi Du Mee (11st 4lb), with Cause Of Causes (10st 9lb) and Make A Track (10st 7lb).

As well as Lord Windermere, trainer Jim Culloty and owner Dr Ronan Lambe have Spring Heeled (10st 12lb), who won the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase at last year’s Cheltenham Festival.

Tony Martin has four engaged, headed by Paddy Power Chase victor Living Next Door (10st 10lb), while Mouse Morris is planning to run Grade 1 winner First Lieutenant (11st 3lb).

Scottish winners

The last two winners of the Scottish Grand National, Al Co (Peter Bowen) and Godsmejudge (Alan King) have both been allotted 10st 8lb. Monbeg Dude (Michael Scudamore), winner of the 2012 Welsh National and seventh at Aintree last year, has been given 10st 7lb.

Those further down the weights include recent Catterick winner Saint Are (Tom George, 10st 6lb) and Betfred Becher Chase hero, 14-year-old Oscar Time (Robert Waley-Cohen, 10st 5lb). Teaforthree (Rebecca Curtis) has been given 10st 7lb, while last year’s fourth Alvarado (Fergal O’Brien) is 57th on the list of weights on 10st 3lb.

Betfred bet: 12 Shutthefrontdoor, 20 Balthazar King, Merry King, Unioniste; 25 Back In Focus, Carlingford Lough, Godsmejudge, Pineau de Re, Sam Winner, Spring Heeled, Teaforthree, 33 Alvarado, Boston Bob, Dolatulo, Home Farm, Living Next Door, Lord Windermere, Many Clouds, Monbeg Dude, Prince de Beauchene, Rebel Rebellion, Rocky Creek, Royale Knight, Saint Are, Sunnyhillboy; 40 Across The Bay, Al Co, Ballycasey, Benvolio, Buddy Bolero, Burton Port, Cause Of Causes, Chance du Roy, Corrin Wood, Court By Surprise, Double Ross, First Lieutenant, Gallant Oscar, Goonyella, Hadrian’s Approach, Kruzhlinin, Rolling Aces, Shotgun Paddy, Soll, Super Duty, The Druids Nephew, Theatrical Star, Wyck Hill; 50 Any Currency, Broadway Buffalo, Carlito Brigante, Cedre Bleu, Duke Of Lucca, Green Flag, Katenko, Make A Track, Mon Parrain, Mountainous, Night In Milan, Oscar Time, Rajdhani Express, Raz de Maree, Renard, Roi du Mee, The Package, Vintage Star; 66 Alderwood, Alpha Victor, Baileys Concerto, Bob Ford, Gas Line Boy, Guess Again, Harry The Viking, My Murphy, Owega Star, Poole Master, Portrait King, Rigadin de Beauchene, Rubi Light, Standing Ovation, Sydney Paget, The Rainbow Hunter, Tranquil Sea; 100 Ballyoliver, Ely Brown, Glenquest, Ikorodu Road, Lackamon, Loch Ba, Maggio, Mart Lane, Neptune Equester, River Choice, Rose Of The Moon, Tales Of Milan; 200 American Spin; NQ Qulinton NR Cappa Bleu (EW terms ¼ odds 1-2-3-4)