The weights for the 2022 Randox Grand National at Aintree Racecourse have risen by 5lbs after the top three in the handicap – Galvin, Conflated and Melon – were taken out at the latest scratchings' stage.
There are now 78 entries remaining, with Henry De Bromhead's Chris's Dream now topping the weights at 11st10lb, for the Aintree showpiece on April 9. There were 14 horses were taken out including the Gordon Elliott-trained duo Galvin and Conflated and Willie Mullins' Melon following their runs at last week's Cheltenham Festival.
Galvin had been among the market leaders for the world's greatest steeplechase before his fourth-placed finish behind A Plus Tard in the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup last Friday. Conflated fell in the Ryanair Chase won by Mullins' Allaho 24 hours earlier, while Melon was fifth in the same race.
Cullentra House handler Elliott – who won the National with Silver Birch (2007) and dual winner Tiger Roll (2018, 2019) – had decided their exertions at Prestbury Park were too much to ask them to then line-up again at Aintree just three weeks later. The Irish trainer still has the most entries of any trainer this year with 13 left in, with eight among the current top 40.
The current favourite is last year's third – Ted Walsh's Any Second Now – who is now a best-priced 12-1 with William Hill and bet365 following his victory in the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse last Saturday.
The 10-year-old, who will now carry 11st7lb, narrowly beat Escaria Ten in the Bobbyjo. Escaria Ten is Elliott's leading fancy and is also 12-1 with William Hill, Unibet and bet365.
Elliott also has Delta Work – who beat dual National winner Tiger Roll on his final career start in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase at Cheltenham last week – among his entries. The nine-year-old, who will now carry 11st8lb, is also vying for favouritism and is a best-priced 12-1 with Coral and Unibet.
Henry De Bromhead's nine-year-old Minella Times was partnered by Rachael Blackmore when scoring at Aintree last April – as the Tipperary-born rider became the first female jockey to win the world's greatest steeplechase.
READ MORE: Grand National hero Rachael Blackmore is first again in the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup
Following the rise in the weights, he is now set to carry second top weight of 11st9lb in his bid for a repeat at the famous Liverpool track and is a best-priced 22-1 with Unibet.
Minella Times is one of four entries from the De Bromhead stable, who won the Unibet Champion Hurdle for a second successive year with Honeysuckle and the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup with the Blackmore-ridden A Plus Tard at Prestbury Park last week. His other entries are top weight Chris's Dream, Poker Party (who is currently 41st on the list) and Court Maid, who has recently switched to De Bromhead's Knockeen stables from Thomas Mullins.
Fourth home last year was Burrows Saint, who is one of four entries for the Irish champion trainer Willie Mullins who won the Grand National with Hedgehunter in 2005.
Burrows Saint is a 25-1 chance with William Hill and Skybet and was third behind Any Second Now in the Bobbyjo Chase on his most recent start.
Mullins could also see Brahma Bull, Class Conti and Augusta Gold line up at Aintree after he took Melon, Franco De Port and Ontheropes out of the race.
Irish-trained horses – who filled the first five places in last year's Grand National – make up 38 of the 78 entries and also dominate the ante-post betting markets.
Ciaran Murphy's Enjoy D'Allen is a 14-1 chance with several bookmakers and he will carry the JP McManus colours having recently been bought by the powerful owner.
A maximum 40 runners will go to post at Aintree on April 9 and currently the Harry Fry-trained Phoenix Way is the 40th horse on the list of 78 entries. Phoenix Way is one of six horses in the top 40 who are owned by McManus, who won a second Grand National with Minella Times 12 months ago.
He is also a best-priced 40-1 with William Hill, Paddy Power and BetVictor.
The most fancied British runner in the bookmakers' lists is Charlie Longsdon's mare Snow Leopardess, who is a best-priced 14-1 with most firms.
The 10-year-old won the Becher Chase over the big Aintree obstacles in December and is now guaranteed a run in the race two weeks on Saturday as she is 38th on the list.
Trainer Longsdon was delighted Snow Leopardess is guaranteed to make the line-up. He said: "It's great she's in. Now it's up to us to get ourselves organised and get her there, so fingers crossed.
"She's very well, she worked this morning. She'll go and jump the National fences in Lambourn at the end of the week and do a bit of work down there and we'll probably just do bits and bobs until the race.
READ MORE: 62 entered for the Topham Chase and 38 for the Foxhunters' at Aintree
"We'd love some rain. It doesn't have to be too slow, it just helps - a little bit of rain would do no harm at all."
Cloth Cap – last year's favourite – and Deisa Aba could both carry the colours of the late triple-Grand National-winning owner Trevor Hemmings.
The Jonjo O'Neill-trained Cloth Cap is now 37th on the list and will carry 10st9lb, while Philip Hobbs' Deisa Aba needs two horses to come out before the final 40 entries are revealed on Thursday, April 9 to get a place in the line-up.
For information regarding tickets for the Randox Grand National Festival visit thejockeyclub.co.uk/Aintree.
Full list of the 78 remaining entries for the 2022 Randox Grand National Handicap Chase (Grade 3) 4m2f74y at Aintree Racecourse on Saturday, April 9 (5.15pm)
Total Prize Fund £1,000,000
HORSE AGE/WGT RATING OWNER TRAINER
1 Chris's Dream (IRE) 10-11-10 162 Robcour Henry de Bromhead IRE
2 Minella Times (IRE) 9-11-09 161 J P McManus Henry de Bromhead IRE
3 Delta Work (FR) 9-11-08 160 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
4 Easysland (FR) 8-11-07 159 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill
5 Any Second Now (IRE) 10-11-07 159 J P McManus Ted Walsh IRE
6 Run Wild Fred (IRE) 8-11-07 158 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
7 Lostintranslation (IRE) 10-11-05 157 Taylor & O'Dwyer Colin Tizzard
8 Brahma Bull (IRE) 11-11 05 157 Susannah Ricci Willie Mullins IRE
9 Battleoverdoyen (IRE) 9-11-05 157 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
10 Burrows Saint (FR) 9-11-04 156 Susannah Ricci Willie Mullins IRE
11 Mount Ida (IRE) 8-11-04 156 KTDA Racing Gordon Elliott IRE
12 Longhouse Poet (IRE) 8-11-03 155 Sean & Bernardine Mulryan Martin Brassil IRE
13 Fiddlerontheroof (IRE) 8-11-03 155 Taylor, Burley & O'Dwyer Colin Tizzard
14 Two For Gold (IRE) 9-11-02 154 May We Never Be Found Out Partnership 2 Kim Bailey
15 Santini (GB) 10-11-01 153 Richard & Lizzie Kelvin-Hughes Polly Gundry
16 Samcro (IRE) 10-11-00 152 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
17 Chatham Street Lad (IRE) 10-11-00 152 Mr V Healy Michael Winters IRE
18 Farclas (FR) 8-11-00 152 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
19 Escaria Ten (FR) 8-11-00 152 McNeill Family Gordon Elliott IRE
20 Good Boy Bobby (IRE) 9-10-12 150 Simon Munir & Isaac Souede Nigel Twiston-Davies
21 Lord du Mesnil (FR) 9-10-12 150 Paul Porter & Mike & Mandy Smith Richard Hobson
22 Coko Beach (FR) 7-10-12 150 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
23 De Rasher Counter (GB) 10-10-11 149 Makin' Bacon Partnership Emma Lavelle
24 Caribean Boy (FR) 8-10-11 149 Simon Munir & Isaac Souede Nicky Henderson
25 Court Maid (IRE) 9-10-11 149 Rory Larkin Henry De Bromhead IRE
26 Kildisart (IRE) 10-10-10 148 Simon Munir & Isaac Souede Ben Pauling
27 Discorama (FR) 9-10-10 148 Andrew Gemmell/Thomas Friel Paul Nolan IRE
28 Highland Hunter (IRE) 9-10-10 148 Thomas Barr Paul Nicholls
29 Top Ville Ben (IRE) 10-10-10 148 Harbour Rose Partnership Philip Kirby
30 Enjoy d'Allen (FR) 8-10-10 148 Railway View Stud Partnership Ciaran Murphy IRE
31 Anibale Fly (FR) 12-10-10 148 J P McManus Tony Martin IRE
32 Dingo Dollar (IRE) 10-10-10 148 M Warren J Holmes R Kidner & J Wright Sandy Thomson
33 Freewheelin Dylan (IRE) 10-10-09 147 Sheila Mangan Dermot McLoughlin IRE
34 Class Conti (FR) 10-10-09 147 Simon Munir/Isaac Souede Willie Mullins IRE
35 Noble Yeats (IRE) 7-10-09 147 Robert Waley-Cohen Emmet Mullins IRE
36 Mighty Thunder (GB) 9-10-09 147 Allson Sparkle Ltd Lucinda Russell
37 Cloth Cap (IRE) 10-10-09 147 Exors of the late Trevor Hemmings Jonjo O'Neill
38 Snow Leopardess (GB) 10-10-08 146 Andrew Fox-Pitt Charlie Longsdon
39 Agusta Gold (IRE) 9-10-08 146 Dr S P Fitzgerald Willie Mullins IRE
40 Phoenix Way (IRE) 9-10-08 146 J P McManus Harry Fry
41 Poker Party (FR) 10-10-07 145 Robcour Henry de Bromhead IRE
42 Deise Aba (IRE) 9-10-07 145 Exors of the late Trevor Hemmings Philip Hobbs
43 Blaklion (GB) 13-10-07 145 Darren & Annaley Yates Dan Skelton
44 Death Duty (IRE) 11-10-06 144 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
45 Go Another One (IRE) 10-10-06 144 Caroline Ahearn John McConnell IRE
46 Domaine de L'Isle (FR) 9-10-06 144 12 Oaks Racing and Ian Hutchins Sean Curran
47 Eclair Surf (FR) 8-10-05 143 Dominic Burke & Tim Syder Emma Lavelle
48 Fortescue (GB) 8-10-05 143 T F F Nixon Henry Daly
49 Romain de Senam (FR) 10-10-04 142 Judith Wilson David Pipe
50 Commodore (FR) 10-10-04 142 Mrs C Watson & Mrs S Graham Venetia Williams
51 School Boy Hours (IRE) 9-10-04 142 J P McManus Noel Meade IRE
52 Scoir Mear (IRE) 12-10-02 140 J P McManus Tom Mullins IR3
53 Full Back (FR) 7-10-02 140 Ashley Head Gary Moore
54 Roi Mage (FR) 10-10-02 140 Douglas Pryde Patrick Griffin IRE
55 Smoking Gun (IRE) 9-10-02 140 Barnard, Courtney, Madden, Gin & GGee's Gordon Elliott IRE
56 Mac Tottie (GB) 9-10-01 139 Steve & Jackie Fleetham Peter Bowen
57 Kauto Riko (FR) 11-10-01 140 Mr and Mrs J. Dale and Partners Tom Gretton
58 Hill Sixteen (GB) 9-10-00 138 J Fyffe & S Townshend Sandy Thomson
59 Discordantly (IRE) 8-10-00 138 The Odd Fellows Partnership Jessica Harrington IRE
60 Plan of Attack (IRE) 9-10-00 138 A Halsall Henry de Bromhead IRE
61 Potters Corner (IRE) 12-10-00 138 All Stars Sports, Davies & Racehorse Club Christian Williams
62 Secret Reprieve (IRE) 8-10-00 138 William & Angela Rucker Evan Williams
63 Robin des Foret (IRE) 12-9-13 137 The 119 Partnership John McConnell IRE
64 Mortal (IRE) 10-9-13 137 Mr A Dunlop Gordon Elliott IRE
65 Defi Bleu (FR) 9-9-13 137 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
66 Definite Plan (IRE) 10-9-13 137 James Reilly Gordon Elliott IRE
73 Mister Whitaker (IRE) 10-9-13 137 Tim Leslie Donald McCain
74 Achille (FR) 12-9-11 135 Vida Bingham Venetia Williams
75 Larry (GB) 9-9-11 135 Galloping On The South Downs Partnership Gary Moore
76 Pink Eyed Pedro (GB) 11-9-11 135 David Brace David Brace
71 The Two Amigos (GB) 10-9-10 134 Bradley Partnership Nicky Martin
72 The Hollow Ginge (IRE) 9-9-08 132 The Ginge Army Nigel Twiston-Davies
73 Jerrysback (IRE) 10-9-06 130 J P McManus Philip Hobbs
74 Alpha des Obeaux (FR) 12-9-06 130 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
75 Stones And Roses (IRE) 8-9-06 130 P Reilly/C Reilly Willie Mullins IRE
76 Gwencily Berbas (FR) 11-9-06 130 Aidan Ryan David Pipe
77 Didero Vallis (FR) 9-9-06 130 Normans, Ramsay, Tufnell & Bishop Venetia Williams
78 Via Dolorosa (FR)10-9-01 125 Judith Wilson David Pipe
SCRATCHED HORSES: Back On The Lash, Braeside, Chantry House, Cloudy Glen, Conflated, Franco de Port, Galvin, Itchy Feet, Jett, Kapcorse, Melon, Milan Native, Ontheropes, Windsor Avenue
78 entries remain (38 Irish-trained)
