Last year’s winner Many Clouds heads a maximum field for the Crabbie’s Grand National at Aintree on Saturday.
The top 40 in the handicap from the five-day confirmation stage all stood their ground at the 48-hour final declaration stage.
As a result, the last horse in the field is the Rebecca Curtis-trained The Romford Pele.
It means there is no place for 2014 winner Pineau De Re, nor Alvarado, who has finished fourth for the last two years.
Double Seven, who was third in 2014, and Cheltenham Festival winner Cause Of Causes also miss the cut.
However, all eyes will be on the Oliver Sherwood-trained Many Clouds, who will have to carry top weight of 11st 10lb round the unique course if he is to become the first horse since the great Red Rum in 1974 to record back-to-back victories in the world’s greatest steeplechase.
Last year’s runner-up Saint Are will try to go one better, while other fancied runners include Silviniaco Conti, The Last Samuri, Holywell, The Druids Nephew and Shutthefrontdoor.
Bishops Road is the first of four reserves on standby should any of the top 40 drop out of the race by 1pm on Friday.
To ensure he gets an appearance at Aintree, Kerry Lee has declared her Betfred Grand National Trial winner for the Crabbie’s Topham Chase on Friday.
The second reserve is the Mick Channon-trained Knock House, while Fergal O’Brien’s Perfect Candidate is number three and Maggio, trained in County Dublin by Patrick Griffin, is four.
Horses taking part in the Grand National
- Many Clouds (Oliver Sherwood)
- Silviniaco Conti (Paul Nicholls)
- First Lieutenant (Mouse Morris)
- Wonderful Charm (Paul Nicholls)
- Ballynagour (David Pipe)
- O’Faolains Boy (Rebecca Curtis)
- Gilgamboa (Enda Bolger)
- On His Own (Willie Mullins)
- The Druids Nephew (Neil Mulholland)
- Triolo D’Alene (Nicky Henderson)
- Rocky Creek (Paul Nicholls)
- Sir Des Champs (Willie Mullins)
- Holywell (Jonjo O’Neill)
- Shutthefrontdoor (Jonjo O’Neill)
- Soll (David Pipe)
- Buywise (Paul Moloney)
- Boston Bob (Willie Mullins)
- Aachen (Venetia Williams)
- Morning Assembly (Pat Fahy)
- Double Ross (Nigel Twiston-Davies)
- Goonyella (Jim Dreaper)
- Ucello Conti (Gordon Elliott)
- Unioniste (Paul Nicholls)
- Le Reve (Lucy Wadham)
- Gallant Oscar (Tony Martin)
- Onenightinvienna (Philip Hobbs)
- The Last Samuri (Kim Bailey)
- Kruzhlinin (Philip Hobbs)
- Rule The World (Mouse Morris)
- Just A Par (Paul Nicholls)
- Katenko (Venetia Williams)
- Vics Canvas (Dermot McLoughlin)
- Black Thunder (Paul Nicholls)
- Ballycasey (Willie Mullins)
- Hadrian’s Approach (Nicky Henderson)
- Vieux Lion Rouge (David Pipe)
- Pendra (Charlie Longsdon)
- Saint Are (Tom George)
- Home Farm (Henry de Bromhead)
- The Romford Pele (Rebecca Curtis)
Reserves
Bishops Road (Kerry Lee)
Knock House (Mick Channon)
Perfect Candidate (Fergal O’Brien)
Maggio (Patrick Griffin)
Who is going to win the Grand National?
Many Clouds has what it takes to become the first horse since the mighty Red Rum in 1974 to win back-back Grand Nationals.
His preparation has gone perfectly and he has been trained to the minute by Oliver Sherwood. Morning Assembly looks the most unexposed horse in the field and can give his supporters a good run for his money.
The Last Samuri, last year’s runner-up Saint Are and The Druids Nephew look the pick of the rest.
Predicted top four
1. Many Clouds
2. Morning Assembly
3. The Last Samuri
4. Saint Are
