History-maker Tiger Roll spearheads an 18-strong Gordon Elliott contingent in the list of Randox Health Grand National entries unveiled today.
Twelve months on from becoming the first horse since Red Rum (1974) to win more than one Aintree marathon, the 10-year-old will bid to emulate the great horse and add a third to his mightily impressive CV.
Via another record attempt at the Cheltenham Festival, where he could win for the fifth time, the diminutive chaser will have a big weight to carry, over which owner Michael O’Leary has previously voiced concerns.
An injury scare earlier in the season also dashed hopes, but now he is back on track and one of 105 horses entered in the £1 million contest on April 4.
The 7/1 favourite with Betway, official betting partner of the Randox Health Grand National Festival, Tiger Roll could be joined by stablemates including Delta Work and Champagne Classic.
(Image: Getty)
Walk In The Mill, a two-time Becher Chase winner, is well forward in the market and is set for a spin over hurdles at Chepstow on Friday.
“This will probably be his last run before the Grand National,” said trainer Robert Walford.
“There are other races that we could run in, but I would like to go to Aintree with a fresh horse, so to run now suits our schedule.
“He has been a brilliant horse for me. He just seems to love those fences at Aintree and it is exciting to have a live Grand National contender on our hands.”
Other leading hopefuls Kimberlite Candy and Le Breuil feature, as do Cheltenham Gold Cup heroes Native River (Colin Tizzard) and Sizing John (Jessica Harrington).
(Image: The Jockey Club via PA Images)
Two-time Betfair Chase victor Bristol de Mai and Irish Grand National victor Burrows Saint are two more names to note, while Vintage Clouds may try his luck after previous disappointments at the famous course.
“Having discussed it at length with Trevor Hemmings (owner), we decided that having won so well in the Peter Marsh Chase, it was worth keeping our options open until nearer the time,” said trainer Sue Smith.
“He has slightly struggled over the Aintree fences, particularly in the Becher, but we want to keep all options on the table for the time being.
“He jumped superbly in the Peter Marsh (January 18) and has come out of the race very well.”
Last year’s runner-up Magic Of Light and 2017 winner One For Arthur are also in contention for the 173rd renewal at this early stage.
Full list of Grand National entries:
A Toi Phil (FR) 10 Teme Valley 2 Gary Moore
Acapella Bourgeois (FR) 10 Slaneyville Syndicate Willie Mullins IRE
Acting Lass (IRE) 9 Nigel & Barbara Collison Harry Fry
Activial (FR) 10 Roger Brookhouse Tom George
Alpha des Obeaux (FR) 10 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
Ami Desbois (FR) 10 The Reserved Judgment Partnership Graeme McPherson
Anibale Fly (FR) 10 J P McManus Tony Martin IRE
Any Second Now (IRE) 8 J P McManus Ted Walsh IRE
As de Mee (FR) 10 The Stewart Family & Judi Dench Paul Nicholls
Aso (FR) 10 The Bellamy Partnership Venetia Williams
Atlanta Ablaze 9 The Last Man Standing Henry Daly
Ballyoptic (IRE) 10 Mills & Mason Partnership Nigel Twiston-Davies
Beware The Bear (IRE) 10 G B Barlow Nicky Henderson
Borice (FR) 9 Simon Munir/Isaac Souede Gordon Elliott IRE
Bristol de Mai (FR) 9 Simon Munir & Isaac Souede Nigel Twiston-Davies
Burrows Saint (FR) 7 Susannah Ricci Willie Mullins IRE
Cabaret Queen 8 SyndicatesRacing Willie Mullins IRE
Cadmium (FR) 8 In Our Element Syndicate Willie Mullins IRE
Champagne Classic (IRE) 9 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
Chef des Obeaux (FR) 8 Sullivan Bloodstock Limited Willie Mullins IRE
Chris’s Dream (IRE) 8 Robcour Henry de Bromhead IRE
Class Conti (FR) 8 P Joubert Willie Mullins IRE
Cogry 11 Graham and Alison Jelley Nigel Twiston-Davies
Crievehill (IRE) 8 Highclere T’Bred Racing- Crievehill Nigel Twiston-Davies
Dalko Moriviere (FR) 7 Ecurie Sagara Jerome Larrigade FR
Dallas des Pictons (FR) 7 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
Death Duty (IRE) 9 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
Definitly Red (IRE) 11 Phil & Julie Martin Brian Ellison
Delta Work (FR) 7 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
Dingo Dollar (IRE) 8 M Warren J Holmes R Kidner & J Wright Alan King
Disco d’Authie (FR) 11 Mme Magalen Bryant David Cottin FR
Double Shuffle (IRE) 10 Crossed Fingers Partnership Tom George
Dounikos (FR) 9 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
Dragon d’Estruval (FR) 7 Simon Munir & Isaac Souede Nicky Henderson
Elegant Escape (IRE) 8 J P Romans Colin Tizzard
Fingerontheswitch (IRE) 10 Cahill, Atwell & Crofts Neil Mulholland
Fitzhenry (IRE) 8 J P McManus Paul Nolan IRE
Flying Angel (IRE) 9 R J Rexton Nigel Twiston-Davies
General Principle (IRE) 11 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
Give Me A Copper (IRE) 10 Done, Ferguson, Mason, Nicholls & Wood Paul Nicholls
Heron Heights (IRE) 11 Barry Maloney Henry de Bromhead IRE
Hogan’s Height (IRE) 9 Foxtrot Racing: Hogan’s Height Jamie Snowden
Jett (IRE) 9 G M McGrath Jessica Harrington IRE
Joe Farrell (IRE) 11 M Sherwood, N Morris & J Turner Rebecca Curtis
Jury Duty (IRE) 9 Sideways Syndicate Gordon Elliott IRE
Kildisart (IRE) 8 Simon Munir & Isaac Souede Ben Pauling
Kilfilum Cross (IRE) 9 Andy Bell & Fergus Lyons Henry Oliver
Kimberlite Candy (IRE) 8 J P McManus Tom Lacey
Lake View Lad (IRE) 10 Trevor Hemmings Nick Alexander
Le Breuil (FR) 8 Mrs Emma Palmer Ben Pauling
Lord du Mesnil (FR) 7 Paul Porter Richard Hobson
Magic of Light (IRE) 9 Ann & Alan Potts Limited Jessica Harrington IRE
Mall Dini (IRE) 10 Philip J Reynolds Patrick Kelly IRE
Missed Approach (IRE) 10 Alan & Andrew Turner Warren Greatrex
Mister Whitaker (IRE) 8 Tim Radford Mick Channon
Monbeg Notorious (IRE) 9 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
Moonshine Bay (IRE) 7 Ann & Alan Potts Limited Jessica Harrington IRE
Native River (IRE) 10 Brocade Racing Colin Tizzard
Noble Endeavor (IRE) 11 Chris Jones Gordon Elliott IRE
Now McGinty (IRE) 9 The Garratt Family Stuart Edmunds
Ok Corral (IRE) 10 J P McManus Nicky Henderson
One For Arthur (IRE) 11 Two Golf Widows Lucinda Russell
Out Sam 11 D Charlesworth Gordon Elliott IRE
Outlander (IRE) 12 Gowing’s Eleven Richard Spencer
Peregrine Run (IRE) 10 V Byrne Peter Fahey IRE
Pleasant Company (IRE) 12 Malcolm Denmark Willie Mullins IRE
Poker Party (FR) 8 Robcour Henry de Bromhead IRE
Potters Corner (IRE) 10 All Stars Sports Racing & J Davies Christian Williams
Prince of Scars (IRE) 10 Simon Munir/Isaac Souede Gordon Elliott IRE
Princeton Royale (IRE) 11 D Nott, P Beadles, R Clarke Neil King
Ramses de Teillee (FR) 8 John White & Anne Underhill David Pipe
Rathlin Rose (IRE) 12 Fergus Wilson David Pipe
Ravenhill (IRE) 10 Try Ravenhill Syndicate Gordon Elliott IRE
Regal Encore (IRE) 12 J P McManus Anthony Honeyball
Roaring Bull (IRE) 7 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
Romain de Senam (FR) 8 Chris Giles & Dan Macdonald Paul Nicholls
Saint Xavier (FR) 8 David Maxwell Racing Limited Paul Nicholls
Scoir Mear (IRE) 10 J P McManus Tom Mullins IRE
Shattered Love (IRE) 9 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
Singlefarmpayment 10 N T Griffith & H M Haddock Tom George
Sizing John 10 Ann & Alan Potts Limited Jessica Harrington IRE
Snugsborough Benny (IRE) 10 R Loughnane Liam Cusack IRE
Soupy Soups (IRE) 9 Equi ex Incertis Partners Neil Mulholland
Spider Web (IRE) 9 J P McManus Tom Mullins IRE
Steely Addition (IRE) 8 Step By Step Philip Hobbs
Sub Lieutenant (IRE) 11 Gigginstown House Stud Henry de Bromhead IRE
Takingrisks (IRE) 11 Frank Bird Nicky Richards
Talkischeap (IRE) 8 Charles Dingwall Alan King
The Hollow Ginge (IRE) 7 The Ginge Army Nigel Twiston-Davies
The Storyteller (IRE) 9 Mrs Pat Sloan Gordon Elliott IRE
The Young Master 11 Mike Burbidge & The Old Masters Neil Mulholland
Tiger Roll (IRE) 10 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
Top Ville Ben (IRE) 8 Harbour Rose Partnership Philip Kirby
Total Recall (IRE) 11 Slaneyville Syndicate Willie Mullins IRE
Tout Est Permis (FR) 7 Gigginstown House Stud Noel Meade IRE
Townshend (GER) 9 J D Neild Nigel Twiston-Davies
Traffic Fluide (FR) 10 Galloping On The South Downs Partnership Gary Moore
Valtor (FR) 11 Simon Munir & Isaac Souede Nicky Henderson
Vieux Lion Rouge (FR) 11 Prof Caroline Tisdall & John Gent David Pipe
Vintage Clouds (IRE) 10 Trevor Hemmings Sue Smith
Voix du Reve (FR) 8 Andrea & Graham Wylie Willie Mullins IRE
Walk In The Mill (FR) 10 Baroness Harding Robert Walford
Warriors Tale 11 Trevor Hemmings Paul Nicholls
Yala Enki (FR) 10 Hills of Ledbury Ltd Paul Nicholls
Yorkhill (IRE) 10 Andrea & Graham Wylie Willie Mullins IRE
