Rule The World is surrounded by well-wishers on his return to Ireland after winning the 2016 Grand National. (Pic: Courtesy of Jockey Club Racecourses).
Horse Talk with Simon Jackson: Top horse-racing tips and the latest news.
THE GRAND NATIONAL at Aintree on April 8 has attracted 110 entries where the betting is headed by 2016 runner-up The Last Samuri and RSA Chase winner Don Poli as 16-1 co-favourites.
The robust entries for the £1millon contest have broken the 100-mark for the third time in four years and follows 126 entries in 2016, 98 entries in 2015, and 115 entries in 2014.
The Randox Health Grand National permits a maximum field of 40 runners for the unique four miles, two furlongs and 74 yards contest that comprises 30 fences and last year was won by the Irish-trained Rule The World.
John Baker, regional director north west at Jockey Club Racecourses, said: “We are thrilled with the quality and quantity of the entries for the 2017 Randox Health Grand National.
“Aintree is delighted to welcome Randox Health as the new sponsor of the iconic race and the countdown to the 170th running of the world’s greatest chase is well and truly underway now that 110 entries have been revealed.
“The unveiling of the Randox Health Grand National weights involves a brand new digital countdown format which we hope will ensure attention is focused on what is happening [when the weights are announced] at the Victoria & Albert Museum between 8pm and 9pm on Tuesday, February 14.”
Dr. Peter FitzGerald, founder and chief executive of Randox, added: “The entries revealed today promise a tremendous race at 5.15pm on Saturday, April 8, when Randox Health sponsors the Grand National for the first time.
“We are looking forward to a great week of racing and are excited to share our message of preventive health with the 600,000,000 viewers of the event worldwide.
“We’re already counting down the days until the start of the three-day Randox Health Grand National Festival at Aintree on Thursday, April 6.”
The Randox Health Grand National
Grade 3 handicap chase, £1 million total prize fund.
Aintree, 5.15pm Saturday, April 8, 2017. 4m 2f 74yds over the Grand National fences.
| Horse | Age | Owner | Trainer |
| A TOI PHIL (FR) | 7 | Gigginstown House Stud | Gordon Elliott IRE |
| ALARY (FR) | 7 | Ann & Alan Potts | Colin Tizzard |
| ALELCHI INOIS (FR) | 9 | L McMahon/Mrs F Murphy/F Mangan | Willie Mullins IRE |
| ALFIE SPINNER (IRE) | 12 | Alan Beard & Brian Beard | Kerry Lee |
| ALVARADO (IRE) | 12 | William & Angela Rucker | Fergal O’Brien |
| AS DE MEE (FR) | 7 | The Stewart Family & Judi Dench | Paul Nicholls |
| BALLYNAGOUR (IRE) | 11 | Allan Stennett | David Pipe |
| BEEVES (IRE) | 10 | Paul & Clare Rooney | Jennie Candlish |
| BENBENS (IRE) | 12 | S Such & C G Paletta | Nigel Twiston-Davies |
| BISHOPS ROAD (IRE) | 9 | Alan Halsall | Kerry Lee |
| BLAKLION | 8 | S Such & CG Paletta | Nigel Twiston-Davies |
| BLESS THE WINGS (IRE) | 12 | Adrian Butler/S P O’Connor | Gordon Elliott IRE |
| CARLINGFORD LOUGH (IRE) | 11 | J P McManus | John Kiely IRE |
| CAROLE’S DESTRIER | 9 | Mrs C Skipworth | Neil Mulholland |
| CAUSE OF CAUSES (USA) | 9 | J P McManus | Gordon Elliott IRE |
| CHAMPAGNE WEST (IRE) | 9 | Roger Brookhouse | Henry de Bromhead IRE |
| CLARCAM (FR) | 7 | Gigginstown House Stud | Gordon Elliott IRE |
| CLOUDY TOO (IRE) | 11 | Formulated Polymer Products Ltd | Sue Smith |
| COCKTAILS AT DAWN | 9 | Robin Geffen & Sir John Ritblat | Nicky Henderson |
| DARE TO ENDEAVOUR | 10 | Aidan J Ryan | Eric McNamara IRE |
| DEFINITLY RED (IRE) | 8 | P J Martin | Brian Ellison |
| DEVILS BRIDE (IRE) | 10 | Gigginstown House Stud | Henry de Bromhead IRE |
| DOCTOR HARPER (IRE) | 9 | The Johnson Family | David Pipe |
| DON POLI (IRE) | 8 | Gigginstown House Stud | Gordon Elliott IRE |
| DOUBLE SHUFFLE (IRE) | 7 | Crossed Fingers Partnership | Tom George |
| DROMNEA (IRE) | 10 | Mrs A M Daly | Mouse Morris IRE |
| DROP OUT JOE | 9 | The Jesters | Charlie Longsdon |
| EMPEROR’S CHOICE (IRE) | 10 | The Bellamy Partnership | Venetia Williams |
| EMPIRE OF DIRT (IRE) | 10 | Gigginstown House Stud | Gordon Elliott IRE |
| FATHER EDWARD (IRE) | 8 | Fergus Wilson | David Pipe |
| FEDERICI | 8 | Jon Glews | Donald McCain |
| FOXROCK (IRE) | 9 | Barry Connell | Ted Walsh IRE |
| GALLANT OSCAR (IRE) | 11 | J P McManus | Tony Martin IRE |
| GAS LINE BOY (IRE) | 11 | The Three Graces | Ian Williams |
| GONE TOO FAR | 9 | Fergus Wilson | David Pipe |
| GOODTOKNOW | 9 | Burling Daresbury MacEchern Nolan Potter | Kerry Lee |
| GOULANES (IRE) | 11 | Roger Brookhouse | Neil Mulholland |
| HADRIAN’S APPROACH (IRE) | 10 | Richard & Lizzie Kelvin-Hughes | Nicky Henderson |
| HIGHLAND LODGE (IRE) | 11 | Bowes Lodge Stables | James Moffatt |
| HOUBLON DES OBEAUX (FR) | 10 | Mrs Julian Blackwell | Venetia Williams |
| JUNCTION FOURTEEN (IRE) | 8 | Martin St Quinton & Tim Syder | Emma Lavelle |
| JUST A PAR (IRE) | 10 | Paul Barber & The Late Graham Roach | Paul Nicholls |
| KATENKO (FR) | 11 | Andrew Brooks | Venetia Williams |
| KILLER CROW (IRE) | 8 | Gigginstown House Stud | Gordon Elliott IRE |
| KNOCK HOUSE (IRE) | 8 | Tim Leslie | Donald McCain |
| LA VATICANE (FR) | 8 | Maria Bukhtoyarova | David Pipe |
| LAMB OR COD (IRE) | 10 | Terry Warner | Philip Hobbs |
| LE MERCUREY (FR) | 7 | Chris Giles & Colm Donlon | Paul Nicholls |
| LESSONS IN MILAN (IRE) | 9 | Trevor Hemmings | Nicky Henderson |
| LORD SCOUNDREL (IRE) | 8 | Gigginstown House Stud | Gordon Elliott IRE |
| LORD WINDERMERE (IRE) | 11 | Dr Ronan Lambe | Jim Culloty IRE |
| MAGGIO (FR) | 12 | Douglas Pryde/James Beaumont | Patrick Griffin IRE |
| MEASUREOFMYDREAMS (IRE) | 9 | Gigginstown House Stud | Noel Meade IRE |
| MILANSBAR (IRE) | 10 | Robert Bothway | Neil King |
| MILBOROUGH (IRE) | 11 | Helen Cross | Ian Duncan |
| MINELLA ROCCO (IRE) | 7 | J P McManus | Jonjo O’Neill |
| MORE OF THAT (IRE) | 9 | J P McManus | Jonjo O’Neill |
| MOUNTAIN KING | 8 | Jack McKay/Paul McKay/Mark McKay | Gordon Elliott IRE |
| O’FAOLAINS BOY (IRE) | 10 | Trembath, Hyde, Outhart & Hill | Rebecca Curtis |
| ONE FOR ARTHUR (IRE) | 8 | Two Golf Widows | Lucinda Russell |
| OTAGO TRAIL (IRE) | 9 | Marie Shone | Venetia Williams |
| OUT SAM | 8 | Swanee River Partnership | Warren Greatrex |
| OUTLANDER (IRE) | 9 | Gigginstown House Stud | Gordon Elliott IRE |
| PENDRA (IRE) | 9 | J P McManus | Charlie Longsdon |
| PERFECT CANDIDATE (IRE) | 10 | ISL Recruitment | Fergal O’Brien |
| PLEASANT COMPANY (IRE) | 9 | Malcolm Denmark | Willie Mullins IRE |
| POLIDAM (FR) | 8 | Simon Munir/Isaac Souede | Willie Mullins IRE |
| POTTERS CROSS | 10 | Conyers, O’Reilly, Roddis, Zeffman | Rebecca Curtis |
| RACING PULSE (IRE) | 8 | Carl Hinchy | Rebecca Curtis |
| RAZ DE MAREE (FR) | 12 | James J Swan | Gavin Cromwell IRE |
| REGAL ENCORE (IRE) | 9 | J P McManus | Anthony Honeyball |
| ROAD TO RICHES (IRE) | 10 | Gigginstown House Stud | Noel Meade IRE |
| ROGUE ANGEL (IRE) | 9 | Gigginstown House Stud | Mouse Morris IRE |
| ROI DES FRANCS (FR) | 8 | Gigginstown House Stud | Gordon Elliott IRE |
| ROYALE KNIGHT | 11 | C E Stedman & R J Corsan | Dr Richard Newland |
| SAINT ARE (FR) | 11 | D W Fox | Tom George |
| SAMBREMONT (FR) | 7 | Shanakiel Racing Syndicate | Willie Mullins IRE |
| SAMINGARRY (FR) | 10 | Nigel Hawke Racing Club & Partner | Nigel Hawke |
| SAPHIR DU RHEU (FR) | 8 | The Stewart Family | Paul Nicholls |
| SAUSALITO SUNRISE (IRE) | 9 | Diana Whateley | Philip Hobbs |
| SEVENTH SKY (GER) | 10 | Fidelma Toole | Charlie Mann |
| SHANTOU FLYER (IRE) | 7 | Carl Hinchy | Rebecca Curtis |
| SHUTTHEFRONTDOOR (IRE) | 10 | J P McManus | Jonjo O’Neill |
| SILVER MAN | 10 | John Wardle | Jo Hughes |
| SIZING COAL (IRE) | 9 | Alan & Ann Potts Partnership | Jim Dreaper IRE |
| STELLAR NOTION (IRE) | 9 | Roger Brookhouse | Henry de Bromhead IRE |
| STRAIDNAHANNA (IRE) | 8 | M B Scholey & R H Scholey | Sue Smith |
| STREETS OF PROMISE (IRE) | 8 | Gempro | Michael Scudamore |
| TENOR NIVERNAIS (FR) | 10 | Boultbee Brooks Ltd | Venetia Williams |
| THE CRAFTY BUTCHER (IRE) | 10 | P Byrne/P W Mullins/D Ryan/I Madigan | Willie Mullins IRE |
| THE GAME CHANGER (IRE) | 8 | Gigginstown House Stud | Gordon Elliott IRE |
| THE LAST SAMURI (IRE) | 9 | Paul & Clare Rooney | Kim Bailey |
| THE ROMFORD PELE (IRE) | 10 | Trembath & Outhart | Rebecca Curtis |
| THE YOUNG MASTER | 8 | Dajam & The Old Masters | Neil Mulholland |
| THUNDER AND ROSES (IRE) | 9 | Gigginstown House Stud | Mouse Morris IRE |
| TIGER ROLL (IRE) | 7 | Gigginstown House Stud | Gordon Elliott IRE |
| TOUR DES CHAMPS (FR) | 10 | Prestbury Racing Club | Samuel Drinkwater |
| TRIOLO D’ALENE (FR) | 10 | Mr & Mrs Sandy Orr | Nicky Henderson |
| UCELLO CONTI (FR) | 9 | Simon Munir/Isaac Souede | Gordon Elliott IRE |
| VICENTE (FR) | 8 | John Hales & Ian Fogg | Paul Nicholls |
| VICS CANVAS (IRE) | 14 | Bodeen Bandits Partnership | Dermot McLoughlin IRE |
| VIEUX LION ROUGE (FR) | 8 | Prof Caroline Tisdall & John Gent | David Pipe |
| VIEUX MORVAN (FR) | 8 | N H Bloodstock Ltd | Isabelle Pacault FR |
| VIVA STEVE (IRE) | 9 | Paul & Clare Rooney | Fergal O’Brien |
| VIVALDI COLLONGES (FR) | 8 | The Gi Gi Syndicate | Paul Nicholls |
| VYTA DU ROC (FR) | 8 | Simon Munir & Isaac Souede | Nicky Henderson |
| WALDORF SALAD | 9 | Alan Parker | Venetia Williams |
| WONDERFUL CHARM (FR) | 9 | Robin Geffen & Sir John Ritblat | Paul Nicholls |
| WOUNDED WARRIOR (IRE) | 8 | Gigginstown House Stud | Noel Meade IRE |
| ZIGA BOY (FR) | 8 | Axom LI | Alan King |
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