Grand National Entries: 85 still in for Aintree showpiece

Another stage of entries has been released for the biggest race on planet earth, the Grand National from Aintree. The 2023 edition of the race will see some old faces attempting to do better than the year before, the return of the defending champion and plenty of new potential staying stars. We've taken a look at some of the most interesting horses left in at Liverpool...

The headline name in the entries list is of course the 2022 champion Noble Yeats, who sprung a 50/1 surprise and saved plenty of bookmakers in denying the ever popular Any Second Now, who is also still in the list of 85. After finishing third in 2021 and second in 2022 it would be a great result to see Ted Walsh's stalwart finally claim the race connections have yearned for with him since his novice days, but once again he will face quite a challenge including from Noble Yeats. This season Emmet Mullins' defending Grand National champion has seen his Cheltenham Gold Cup odds slashed from as big as 66/1 to 6/1 and if he is to run well or even win the blue ribband he would surely shoulder top weight at Aintree. It would be a fascinating storyline were the 2022 winner to be coming here off the back of winning the most prestigious race in the National Hunt sphere and after his exploits this season, particularly his Many Clouds win in which he showed serious gears, it would be a brave punter to back against him.

Gordon Elliot has a mammoth 21 left in the race and some of his most intriguing runners include last year's Cross Country winner and Grand National third Delta Work, Conflated and Galvin. The last named horse of that trio has looked tailor made for the unique test of the Grand National for some time and is sure to be well fancied. Elliot's Irish rival as super trainer Willie Mullins is responsible for just 8 of the 85 as he hunts his first Grand National since Hedgehunter way back in 2005. Gaillard Du Mesnil looks his most interesting contender and depending on how he does at the Cheltenham Festival, could be favourite on the day due to the potential for a nice racing weight as he is still a novice.

In amongst the 85 potential runners there are a host of very intriguing prospects, none more so than last season's Ultima winner Corach Ramber. His running style of being borderline tailed off before rallying late for glory could be suited to this marathon race and the Lucinda Russel team, winners of this race in 2017 with One For Arthur, have indicated it's all systems go for the Aintree showpiece. 2021 winner Minella Times has been running poorly since that famous day under Rachael Blackmore but could be sparked back into life by Henry De Bromhead ready for his day, while Remastered has been reborn this season and could look like winning for a lot of the race due to his powerful running style.

Iwilldoit returned from a long lay off to take the Classic Chase at Warwick recently for trainer Sam Thomas and after winning the Welsh Grand National before his big break would be certain to relish this race distance (his aptitude for the fences remains to be seen). Fiddlerontheroof and Longhouse Poet filled the extra places of fifth and sixth last season and should be back for more in April 2023 on Merseyside. 

The Grand National 2023 weights are set to be published on Tuesday, February 21st and you can see the allocated weights on that day right here at HorseRacing.net!