Horseracing: Florida Pearl tops Aintree weights

Florida Pearl heads the 100 horses who have stood their ground for the Martell Grand National at Aintree on April 7.

Willie Mullins' charge tops the handicap following the withdrawal of See More Business at Tuesday's forfeit stage.

However, the nine-year-old has only been left in the £500,000 contest as an option should something go wrong with his Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup challenge.

Mullins said: "He's going to Cheltenham, he'd only run in the National if he were to fall at the first or miss Cheltenham.

"He's been left in there so we have another option but it's not part of the plan."

The most significant of the 33 defectors is Florida Pearl's stablemate Alexander Banquet, who has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a slight tendon injury.

"There is very, very little damage but we just felt we should take a pull and bring him back next season when he can compete with horses of the highest ability," Mullins said.

Mullins' Micko's Dream, who fell at the first in last year's National, is a possible for this term's renewal.

The trainer added: "Micko's Dream is in the Nakayama Grand Jump, the Aintree National and will be entered in the Irish National.

"We will decide where he goes later - he will only run in one of them - but I'm leaning towards Aintree."

Trainer Ferdy Murphy has confirmed that Streamstown, who is set to run in Saturday's De Vere Gold Cup at Haydock could take his chance at Aintree.

Murphy said: "Streamstown runs at Haydock and we'll see how we go.

"He's in the William Hill National Hunt Handicap Chase at Cheltenham but he'll only run there if the ground is heavy.

"I've left him in the Martell Grand National - he's only seven - but he's on a very attractive weight. It's one day at a time."

Murphy is confident that Streamstown will handle the National fences, which have been the subject of modification this season, but is after soft ground.

He said: "He couldn't get it soft enough. He goes on any ground really but the heavier it is inconveniences the other horses. He's very tough and stays all day and I have no problems about the Grand National trip.

"The new job that Aintree has done on the fences is absolutely fantastic. It's very exciting - I think all the horses will appreciate it and I've no bones about Streamstown jumping them."