All the leading contenders for the Randox Grand National have stood their ground at the five-day declaration stage for Saturday's big race at Aintree.
A maximum field of 40 looks assured for the £1million showpiece, with Corach Rambler heading the market for Lucinda Russell.
The final 48-hour declaration stage is set for Thursday.
Last year's winner and recent Gold Cup fourth Noble Yeats will bid to join the likes of Red Rum and Tiger Roll as a multiple winner of world's greatest steeplechase.
Venetia Williams, who won the prize in 2009 with 100-1 shot Mon Mome, will rely on Cloudy Glen for the late Trevor Hemmings, with Royale Pagaille bypassing the race for the Irish version added to the withdrawal of her Haydock Grand National Trial winner Quick Wave.
The defection of that duo means good news for trainers Sam Thomas and Gordon Elliott, who see Our Power and Dunboyne respectively sneaking in near the foot of the handicap, while Francky Du Berlais, Fortescue, Back On The Lash and Defi Bleu are also guaranteed a run.
Envoi Allen, The Shunter, Gin On Lime and Battleoverdoyen also had places in the field but were removed as the contenders were whittled down to 50, with the Elliott-trained Gevrey and Punitive, who are next on the list, potentially missing the cut. Gevrey though ran a huge race in the Irish National, going down by just a length in a last-gasp finish.
Our Power, winner of four of his eight starts over fences, including Ascot's London Gold Cup and the Coral Trophy at Kempton on his previous two runs, carries just 10st in the four-and-a-quarter-mile marathon.
Dunboyne, who was runner-up in the Thyestes at Gowran Park and then fourth in the Kim Muir at Cheltenham, is one of seven sure of a place in the line-up for County Meath handler Elliott as he bids for a fourth win following the success of Silver Birch (2007) and Tiger Roll (2018 and 2019).
Delta Work and Galvin, who gave Elliott a one-two in Cheltenham's cross-country chase, spearhead the Summerhill handler's team, which also includes Coko Beach, Fury Road, Escaria Ten and the aforementioned Defi Bleu, although he too was in action in the Irish National, outrunning his odds to be third.
Any Second Now, who was runner-up to 50-1 winner Noble Yeats 12 months ago, tops the weights with 11st 12lb for Ted Walsh.
He is one of five horses who will bid to give owner JP McManus a third victory following those of Don't Push It (2010) and Minella Times (2021).
No less than 34 of the 50 left are Irish-trained, with the all-conquering Willie Mullins set to saddle five in Capodanno, Carefully Selected, Gaillard Du Mesnil, Mr Incredible and Recite A Prayer.
1. ANY SECOND NOW (Ted Walsh) Rating (out of 10) 7
Third in 2021 and runner-up last year, he bids to go one better for a trainer who has a good record in the race. This classy performer must buck history, for not since 1899 has an 11-year-old managed to win race carrying as much weight.
2. NOBLE YEATS (Emmet Mullins) 9
A shock 50-1 winner last year, his Gold Cup fourth was a good effort and while he carries over a stone more than last year, age and experience are on his side.
3. GALVIN (Gordon Elliott) 9
Talented but inconsistent recently, stamina is seemingly not a problem for this Grade One winner who landed Cheltenham's National Hunt Chase two years ago and finished fourth in the Gold Cup last year. Always regarded as National prospect.
4. FURY ROAD (Gordon Elliott) 6
A solid jumper who represents the same connections as dual winner Tiger Roll. A Grade One-winning novice chaser, he did seem to run out of steam when third in the Irish Gold Cup and was well held in the Ryanair at Cheltenham.
5. THE BIG DOG (Peter Fahey) 7
Bounced back this season to take the Munster National and the Troytown at Navan, and was placed in the Welsh National. Led to three out in the Irish Gold Cup but uncharacteristically fell at the penultimate fence. Each-way claims.
6. CAPODANNO (Willie Mullins) 5
Owned by JP McManus, he bids to become only the second seven-year-old to win the National since Bogskar in 1940 after Noble Yeats last year. A Grade One winner but lacks experience and stamina is unproven.
7. DELTA WORK (Gordon Elliott) 7
Having denied stablemate Tiger Roll a fairytale farewell at Cheltenham last year, he followed up again in the same race last month beating Galvin. A distant third in this last year, he is slightly better off at the weights this time.
8. SAM BROWN (Anthony Honeyball) 6
Beaten just four lengths by Bravemansgame at Wetherby, he had not looked his best in two subsequent chase starts on unsuitable ground. Promising signs over hurdles at Uttoxeter and has won over regulation fences at Aintree before.
9. LIFETIME AMBITION (Jessica Harrington) 8
Only once out of the first four in 22 starts for his astute trainer. Likes to be up with the pace and has shown best form on soft ground. Fourth in the Grand Sefton on his first try over these fences. Could have a say if he sees out the trip.
10. CAREFULLY SELECTED (Willie Mullins) 7
Lightly-raced 11-year-old who justified favouritism in the Thyestes at Gowran on only his second run back after 30 months off. Has a touch of class and should go well if his jumping holds up.
11. COKO BEACH (Gordon Elliott) 8
Up with the pace before tiring from two out to finish eighth last year. Stronger this year, he jumped well when cosily taking the Punchestown Grand National Trial and his trainer's runners must always be respected. Live outsider.
12. LONGHOUSE POET (Martin Bassil) 10
A fair sixth in 2022 despite racing with the choke out for much of the contest. Has had his mark protected with three hurdle runs this term by a trainer who won in 2006 with Numbersixvalverde. Prefers ease in the ground and if settling, holds strong claims.
13. GAILLARD DU MESNIL (Willie Mullins) 7
Opened his account over fences in a Grade One at Leopardstown over Christmas and stayed on from well off the pace to get up in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham. Improver, though this may come a year too soon.
14. DARASSO (Joseph O'Brien) 3
Chased home Hewick in the Galway Plate but has never won beyond two and three-quarter miles. Not one for the shortlist.
15. LE MILOS (Dan Skelton) 8
Has come into his own this season, winning a decent renewal of what used to be the Hennessy Gold Cup. Jumps, stays and has a decent weight, so ticks plenty of boxes for a trainer who knows the time of day. Leading chance.
16. ESCARIA TEN (Gordon Elliott) 4
Beaten a nose by Any Second Now in the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse last season but stamina limitations were exposed, not for the first time, when weakening late to finish ninth in the National last year.
17. THE BIG BREAKAWAY (Joe Tizzard) 7
Produced some decent form this season, including a another narrow defeat in the Welsh Grand National. Jumps, stays and has a decent weight. Potential to run a big race, provided his Cheltenham run did not take too much out of him.
18. CAPE GENTLEMAN (John Joseph Hanlon) 3
A fair novice chaser who has shown little in recent runs to inspire much confidence, but represents a very capable trainer.
19. ROI MAGE (Patrick Griffin) 7
Ex-French Grade Three winner who really upped his game on anything he had previously shown for his current yard in conceding 5lb when a gallant runner-up to Longhouse Poet at Down Royal. Could be a player at decent odds.
20. DIOL KER (Noel Meade) 6
One win in 13 over fences came in the Leinster National. Blinkers helped when short-headed in a valuable Leopardstown handicap but disappointed since. Capable of better for his savvy trainer, however stamina doubts remain.
21. A WAVE OF THE SEA (Joseph O'Brien) 4
Represents powerful connections and young enough to think there is improvement to come. Three chase wins have all come over two and a half miles or shorter, though, and was pulled up in the Grand Annual last time out.
22. MINELLA TRUMP (Donald McCain) 5
Rattled up a six-timer as a novice in 2021 and won Perth Gold Cup in June. Last over seven over hurdles on recent comeback.
23. VANILLIER (Gavin Cromwell) 6
Clearly has class, but not proven so good over fences, with a sole success coming in a weak four-runner Grade Two. Runner-up finish to Kemboy in the Bobbyjo showed improvement, but trip is a concern.
24. VELVET ELVIS (Thomas Gibney) 3
Two wins from 10 over fences have both come at three miles. Close-up sixth in the Irish Grand National last April and second to Any Second Now when last seen. Another for whom this looks too soon.
25. AIN'T THAT A SHAME (Henry De Bromhead) 6
Was close up in the Munster National and Paddy Power Chase before getting off the mark over fences at the seventh time of asking. Inexperience is the drawback for this lightly-raced improver from a top yard.
26. CORACH RAMBLER (Lucinda Russell) 8
Dual winner at Cheltenham, he bids to give the Scottish yard its second win in the race after One For Arthur in 2017. Had a hard race when winning at Cheltenham again, but always been regarded as a horse tailor-made for this race.
27. ENJOY D'ALLEN (Ciaran Murphy) 3
Third in the Irish National two years ago is as good as it has got. Unseated at the first last year and has shown little subsequently, yet cannot be discounted given his connections.
28. MR INCREDIBLE (Willie Mullins) 7
Relished the step up to three miles and five furlongs when chasing home Iwilldoit in heavy ground at Warwick. A fine third in the Kim Muir, he could win but equally could plant his feet at the start.
29. MISTER COFFEY (Nicky Henderson) 5
Did not appear to take to the fences in the Topham, but ran a cracker to be third in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham. His master trainer may have to wait a while longer to win the one big race missing from his CV.
30. CLOUDY GLEN (Venetia Williams) 6
Former Coral (Hennessy) Gold Cup winner who finished third to stablemate Quick Wave on his first run following over a year off at Haydock in February. Pulled up subsequently in the Ultima. Stays well and soft ground would aid his chance.
31. HILL SIXTEEN (Sandy Thomson) 6
Last season's Becher Chase runner-up was seventh in this year's renewal of that race. More needed, though an assured jumper and no forlorn hope at big odds.
32. GABBYS CROSS (Henry De Bromhead) 6
Quick enough to win over two and a half miles as a novice, he had plenty of support when eighth in the Thyestes at Gowran Park. Followed that with a fine third in the Leinster National. Handles soft ground and should stay.
33. RECITE A PRAYER (Willie Mullins) 4
Cork National third needs to improve on his last two runs. Will likely stay, but in his own time.
34. EVA'S OSKAR (Tim Vaughan) 5
Was in good form earlier this season and put up a career-best in winning at Cheltenham in December. A distant Eider fourth was a fine effort under top-weight at Newcastle, but the grey needs to find a little more.
35. OUR POWER (Sam Thomas) 7
A tidy, accurate jumper who is well handicapped on the back of wins at Ascot and Kempton. Trainer does well with staying chasers and every chance of going well.
36. DUNBOYNE (Gordon Elliott) 6
In good form this year. Came close to landing the Thyestes Chase before a decent effort when fourth in the Kim Muir. Will need to bely his relative inexperience to be a factor.
37. FRANCKY DU BERLAIS (Peter Bowen) 2
Easily held in the Becher and while he took well to Cheltenham's cross-country course on his penultimate start, he refused after running well for a long way the second time. Plenty to find.
38. FORTESCUE (Henry Daly) 3
Becher fourth is the only worthwhile form shown this term and was going backwards when unseating four out last year.
39. BACK ON THE LASH (Martin Keighley) 4
Part-owned by Harry Redknapp, if transferring his liking for Cheltenham's cross-country course to these iconic fences, he is not without hope. Should stay, yet perhaps lacks a touch of class.
40. DEFI BLEU (Gordon Elliott) 5
Ran a huge race to be third in the Irish National on Monday and not disgraced at Cheltenham and Punchestown before that, but would be an incredible training performance were he to come out so quickly and win this.
41. GEVREY (Gordon Elliott) 5
Not beaten far at all at Cheltenham and was just a length away from glory in a last-gasp finish to the Irish National. That puts him in a different light now, but even so this is surely a mammoth task.
42. PUNITIVE (Gordon Elliott) 2
Won a decent pot at Fairyhouse in December but since then he has been well beaten in the Thyestes and pulled up in the Kim Muir. Hard to see him getting involved.
43. MILAN NATIVE (Gordon Elliott) 1
A Cheltenham Festival winner in the Kim Muir back in 2020, he has been badly out of form this season. Tailed off when pulled up two years ago, there is little to recommend him.
44. BORN BY THE SEA (Paul John Gilligan) 1
Massive stamina doubts having spent the large majority of his career racing over shorter and even that form leaves him with plenty to find.
VERDICT:
Another wide-open renewal of the world's most famous steeplechase in which Irish trainers have provided four of the last five winners.
Strength in numbers means it is worth siding with the Irish raiders again. While Gordon Elliott, who scored with Tiger Roll in 2020 and 2021, is well positioned with several live chances, Martin Brassil also knows what it takes to win this and in Longhouse Poet he has a horse with many of the right credentials. A little too keen last year, he has been primed for this all season and if keeping clear of trouble near the head of affairs again, he is expected to run a huge race.
All distances seem to come alike to Noble Yeats, who has done little wrong since scoring last year. History is against him, but he is one for the shortlist again, especially as there has been sufficient recovery time from his Gold Cup exploits.
Picking the best of Elliott's bunch is no easy task, although Galvin has a touch of class and could run into a place. Lifetime Ambition is wholly consistent and, if taking to the course, might take some valuable prize-money for Jessica Harrington.
Corach Rambler, Le Milos, Roi Mage and Vanillier and are all of interest, but could just miss out on the placings.
