Le Coudray new National top-weight
The 11-year-old, trained by Christy Roche, is left carrying 11st 12lb as the weights have been raised 3lb following the expected absence of Grey Abbey and Sir Rembrandt.
First Gold is next in the handicap for the world’s greatest steeplechase on 11st 11lb, though Francois Doumen’s gelding also holds an entry in Thursday’s Betfair Bowl over the Mildmay fences.
Among those high in the handicap who were taken out today were Seebald, Rince Ri and Alexander Banquet. Seebald’s trainer Martin Pipe has also withdrawn Jurancon II and Venn Ottery, but still has a strong team. The champion trainer has four horses guaranteed a run - last year’s third Lord Atterbury, It Takes Times, Iznogoud and Polar Red.
He also has three - Heart Midoltian, Montreal and Latitude - who are some way off making the top 40 who will be allowed to run in Saturday’s £700,000 spectacular.
The cut-off point is currently the Jonjo O’Neill-trained Simply Gifted, leaving Lucinda Russell hoping that at least one horse comes out at Thursday’s 48-hour final stage to enable Coral Welsh National runner-up Strong Resolve to take his chance.
Other interesting horses hovering just outside the top 40 include two previous runners-up - Supreme Glory, who was second to Monty’s Pass two years ago, and Smarty, next best behind Red Marauder in 2001.
All the major ante-post fancies have stood their ground. They include the 8-1 favourite Hedgehunter, who took a tired fall at the final fence last year when still in contention, plus the first three home 12 months ago - Amberleigh House, Clan Royal and Lord Atterbury.
There is tremendous interest surrounding Carrie Ford, who will attempt to become the first woman rider to win the race. She partnered her mount Forest Gunner, trained by her husband Richard, to victory over the National fences in the Fox Hunters’ Chase last April.
Monty’s Pass, fourth 12 months ago and the winner in 2003, is among 18 Irish horses left in the race, while Bindaree, successful in 2002, is a third previous National winner bidding for more Aintree glory.
Jonjo O’Neill hopes to be three-handed with Clan Royal, Simply Gifted and Shamawan.
The Jackdaws Castle trainer said: “Brian Harding rides Simply Gifted and AP McCoy is on Clan Royal.
“We are waiting on confirmation of a jockey for Shamawan, though we should know shortly.
“Clan Royal looks okay, but like I said a few days ago, without him having a run for so long, you can’t be confident.
“Simply Gifted is in good order and hopefully he’ll give Brian a nice ride.”
Clan Royal and Shamawan are owned by J P McManus, who is also responsible for the top two in the handicap, Le Coudray and First Gold, as well as other possibles including Risk Accessor, last year’s fifth Spot Thedifference and French challenger Innox.
McCoy believes that Clan Royal’s fine record round Aintree, which has also seen him win the Becher and Topham Chases, will stand him in good stead.
“He’s done well on his trips round Aintree and he’s in very good form. I schooled him the other morning and I couldn’t be happier with him,” the champion jockey told At The Races.
“Obviously everybody will be a little bit worried about the fact that he hasn’t run since December.
“He’s in great form and he looked super. I was very pleased with his run at Bangor last time.
“The form book suggests he’s a much better horse over the Grand National fences. He’s only an average horse over normal fences but the ones at Aintree bring the best out of him and hopefully they will do on Saturday.”
