All the leading contenders, including Coral's 7-1 favourite Corach Rambler, remain on course for the 2023 Randox Grand National at Aintree Racecourse on April 15 after 57 entries were left in at the latest scratchings' stage.
There were 16 horses taken out of the Aintree showpiece with, as expected, John 'Shark' Hanlon's joint top weight Hewick the main one. Dan Skelton's Becher Chase hero Ashtown Lad and last year's Irish Grand National winner Lord Lariat, from the Dermot McLoughlin stable, are two others now out of the race. The former is likely to run in the 2m5f Randox Supports Race Against Dementia Topham Chase on Ladies Day having already shown his liking for the big Aintree obstacles in the Becher in December.
Bet365 Gold Cup, Galway Plate and American Grand National winner Hewick had already been confirmed to be out by his trainer having suffered a heavy fall in the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup at the recent Cheltenham Festival. With his defection it leaves last year's runner-up, the Ted Walsh-trained Any Second Now, heading the handicap on 11st12lb with the third horse who was initially handed top weight Conflated also taken out by trainer Gordon Elliott. He will instead run in the Grade One Aintree Bowl Chase, in which he finished second last year, on Grand Opening Day on April 13. Despite taking five horses out, triple Grand National-winning trainer Elliott still has 13 left in – headed by Delta Work, who was third in the Aintree marathon last year, and landed a second successive victory in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase at Cheltenham. He is a best-priced 12-1 with Coral, Skybet and bet365 for the Grand National.
