A total of 58 horses remain in contention to run in the Randox Grand National on April 13 after 22 entries were withdrawn in the latest round of scratches.
Asterion Forlonge, Threeunderthrufive, Letsbeclearaboutit and James du Berlais were among those taken out but the majority of fancied runners for the Aintree showpiece, including red-hot 5/1 favourite Corach Rambler, stood their ground.
Hewick, the horse that had been allocated top weight for the Grand National, is set to run in the Aintree Bowl instead. Conflated will currently shoulder top weight of 11st 12lb, with last year’s winner Corach Rambler carrying seven lbs less.
As it stands Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott could saddle 10 runners apiece. That equates to well over half the field and each man is likely to saddle more than the total British contingent which is likely to be eight, albeit headed by Corach Rambler.
Horses currently on the cusp of making the cut include the British pair Chambard, currently number 37, a winner over the fences in the autumn who would be ridden by amateur rider Lucy Turner, and last year’s Scottish National-Bet365 Gold Cup hero Kitty’s Light (38).