All the leading contenders, including William Hill's 13-2 favourite Corach Rambler, remain on course for the 2023 Randox Grand National at Aintree Racecourse this Saturday after 50 entries were left in at the five-day declaration stage. While Grand National-winning trainer Donald McCain is looking forward to returning to the big stage at Aintree with Minella Trump.
There were seven horses taken out of the Aintree showpiece today with the Ted Walsh-trained Any Second Now – who has been third and second in the last two Grand Nationals – heading the handicap on 11st12lb. He is a best-priced 16-1 with William Hill. The Lucinda Russell-trained Corach Rambler has been the market leader since winning the Ultima Handicap Chase for a second successive year at last month's Cheltenham Festival. Last year's Grand National winner, the Emmet Mullins-trained Noble Yeats, was a staying-on fourth behind Galopin Des Champs in the Cheltenham Gold Cup as he warmed up for another crack at the Aintree showpiece. He is currently a best-priced 8-1 with most bookmakers for his bid to become the 10th dual winner of the race.
Another leading fancy still on course to line-up is last year's third Delta Work, who landed a second successive victory in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase and is trained by triple Grand National winner Gordon Elliott at Cheltenham. He is a best-priced 10-1 with Skybet and bet365 for the Grand National and heads 12 entries for the County Meath handler for which he is likely to have six in the final field. As well at Delta Work – Galvin, Fury Road, Coko Beach, Escaria Ten and Dunboyne are likely to bid to provide trainer Elliott with a record-equalling fourth success in the Aintree showpiece.
