Remarkably,56 of the 87 entries for the Aintree Grand National on
April 13th are trained in Ireland with Gordon Elliott having 23 of
them.
The Co Meath trainer will be bidding for a fourth triumph in the
famous steeplechase, Silver Birch having won if for him in 2007 and
Tiger Roll enjoying a double triumph in 2018 and 2019.
This year the number of starters has been reduced from 40 to 34 and
after the weights were announced this week, only seven of the top 34
are trained in Britain.
The list is headed by Hewick, trained by the popular ‘Shark’ Hanlon,
on 11-12 with last year’s winner Corach Rambler on 11-2.
Two of Meath’s leading trainers above Gavin Cromwell and lead picture
Gordon Elliott.
Runner-up in 2023, Vanillier, trained by Gavin Cromwell, is on 10-8
and has been installed as the 12/1 favourite while Emmet Mullins’ hero
Noble Yeats is on the list just below Elliott’s highest weighted
entrant, Conflated.
Willie Mullins’ Cappodann is next with Elliott’s Coko Beach.
Remarkably, there hasn’t been an English trained winner of the the
race since Oliver Sherwood’s Many Clouds in 2015.
