Last year’s winner Ballabriggs heads the 82 entries for the Grand National at Aintree on April 14.
The 11-year-old provided trainer Donald McCain, son of the legendary Ginger McCain, with an emotional first triumph in the world’s most famous steeplechase.
McCain also has Charlie Hall Chase winner Weird Al and Wymott engaged at this stage.
This year’s Grand National will be the first renewal since entry requirements were tightened.
Only horses aged seven or above can now compete and every runner must have been placed in the first four of a chase of three miles (4800m) or more by March 20 and be rated 120 or above.
Joining Ballabriggs at the head of the market are the David Pipe-trained Junior and Jonjo O’Neill’s Lexus Chase winner Synchronised.
Calgary Bay won Saturday’s Sky Bet Chase at Doncaster and is an interesting contender for Henrietta Knight as is Malcolm Jefferson’s rejuvenated Rowland Meyrick and Peter Marsh Chase winner According To Pete.
Irish champion trainer Willie Mullins saddled the strongly backed Hedgehunter to win the race in 2005 and this year has 12 contenders including last year’s sixth home and beaten favourite The Midnight Club, Thyestes Chase winner On His Own and the talented Quel Esprit.
In all there are 31 Irish-trained entries, with Alfa Beat and Becauseicouldntsee others worth mentioning.
The latter only made it as far as the second fence when a leading fancy last year but trainer Noel Glynn is looking forward to a return to Merseyside.
“The Grand National is the plan again for Becauseicouldntsee and I hope that we get a bit further than last year,” said Glynn.
“Hopefully, he will run in the National Trial at Punchestown on Sunday and we will take it from there.
“For such a good jumper, he had two nasty falls last year including at Leopardstown over Christmas, when he would have been there or thereabouts. He hurt his hip during that race but it’s all sorted now and he is moving good.
“I am just a little afraid that those falls might have affected him mentally, so I am just hoping that he can post a clear round on Sunday to get his confidence back.”
The weights, compiled especially for the race by British Horseracing Authority head of handicapping Phil Smith, are announced at the Grand National Launch in London on February 14.
Grand National, Betfred market: 16-1 Ballabriggs, Junior, Synchronised; 20-1 Calgary Bay, Midnight Chase, On His Own, Quel Esprit, West End Rocker; 25-1 According to Pete, Always Right, Apt Approach, Burton Port, Cappa Bleu, Chicago Grey, Deep Purple, Hold on Julio, Little Josh, Planet of Sound, Prince De Beauchene, Roulez Cool, Seabass, Shakalakaboomboom, The Midnight Club, 33-1 upwards others.
PA AAP TURF
