Market mover Eclair Surf still needs several runners to come out of the Grand National to earn a place in the line-up.
Emma Lavelle's chaser moved up to 43rd in the list on Monday at the latest confirmation stage. A total of 40 horses can take part in the £1m race at Aintree on Saturday, which is sponsored by Randox.
Chris's Dream, Chatham Street Lad and Go Another One were taken out of the marathon. As a result, last year's sixth Blaklion and outsider Poker Party are now guaranteed a run. Eclair Surf's odds shortened over the weekend when his Eider Chase conqueror Win My Wings was a runaway winner of the Scottish National.
Punters noticed Lavelle's charge was on a decent mark and he is now 14-1 (from 25-1) with William Hill. The trainer told the Racing Post he is in a "brilliant form" but it is in the "lap of the gods" whether the improving eight-year-old makes the line-up.
"He's got a very good profile but the only concern is the fact he can miss the odd fence. Clearly, in the National you don't get that chance," she said. "He's got better and better as the season has progressed though. He's jumped beautifully over National fences at home too."
The defection of Chris's Dream, the original top-weight, gives his stablemate and last year's winner Minella Times that position. Trainer Gordon Elliott has eight horses in the field, with his ninth contender Death Duty, in 41st place in the long list.
Domaine De L'Isle is 42nd and Fortescue 44th, which means they will join Eclair Surf as reserves at declaration time on Thursday.
Aintree's ground was changed from good to soft on Monday morning after 7.5mm of rain overnight. Clerk of the course Sulekha Varna has been faced with conflicting weather forecast less than a week away from the showpiece event.
"We are, unfortunately, not able to plan too far ahead," she said yesterday. "Basically, the forecasters are telling us they don’t know beyond Tuesday and Wednesday – some think it is going to be dry, some think it is going to be wet.”
Aintree's fixture, which starts on Thursday, comes three weeks after the Cheltenham Festival, where the watered track turned heavy following persistent rain.
