1 NOBLE YEATS ***

Triumphed in the 2022 race when he was still a novice, and made a decent fist of trying to defend his crown last year when he finished fourth off a 19lb higher mark. Wasn’t a factor in the Stayers Hurdle at Cheltenham, and while he’ll almost certainly go well, he’ll be carrying an awful lot of weight.


2 NASSALAM **

Produced a career-best by a fair distance when he demolished the Welsh National field in December, romping home by 34 lengths. That win pretty much came in a bog, so he’ll relish the testing ground at Aintree, but he disappointed when pitched into the Gold Cup and looks too high up in the weights.


3 COKO BEACH ***

Finished second in December’s Becher Chase so is clearly at home over these fences, but his stamina seemed to cut out when he was pulled up in last year’s National. Won over the banks in Ireland in February, and also landed the Troytown Chase at Navan in the autumn, so couldn’t be ruled out if he could make it home.


4 CAPODANNO **

Undoubtedly talented, as highlighted by his win in January’s Cotswold Chase, but seemed to cut out quickly when pulled up after the second-last fence in last year’s race. Ran in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham over two-and-a-half miles, so a lack of stamina for this marathon test would have to be a worry.


5 I AM MAXIMUS ****

Burst onto the radar for this race when he won the Irish Grand National as a novice last April and has maintained his progress with two wins at Fairyhouse this season. Tends to make the occasional jumping mistake, where he is often slow through the air, but is hugely talented and ticks most boxes. A big player.


6 MINELLA INDO ***

A Gold Cup winner in 2021, who finished a creditable second trying to defend his crown 12 months later. Has spent this season edging towards the cross-country sphere, but remains a hugely-talented chaser. Has come down 16lbs since his peak, but has his National debut come a season or two too late?


7 CORACH RAMBLER ****

Last year’s winner, who produced a career-best effort when finishing third in last month’s Gold Cup. Is proven over course-and-distance, but is 13lb higher than last year and looked to have had a hard enough race at Cheltenham. Even so, he remains 3lbs well-in after his Gold Cup run and looks certain to run a big race.


8 JANIDIL *

Was a talented youngster and has previously finished second in a Ryanair, but has only won one of his last 13 races. His best form has come over much shorter distances, indeed he has never even run in a race beyond three miles, so there would have to be a major question mark over his stamina. A big outsider.


9 STATTLER ***

Looked tailor-made for this type of test when he won the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham in 2022, but while he has subsequently finished second in an Irish Gold Cup, he hasn’t progressed as anticipated. His stamina is assured though, and he has pieces of recent form to suggest he could be a factor.


10 MAHLER MISSION ***

Might well have won last year’s National Hunt Chase had he not fallen when leading two out, but has only been seen twice since. His long lay-off since early December is a worry, but this has been the plan and his second in the Coral Gold Cup last time out was a decent effort. An improving youngster who couldn’t be ruled out.


11 DELTA WORK ****

A cross-country specialist who has won the last two renewals of the race at Cheltenham and boasts some of the strongest Aintree form in the field. Finished third in the 2022 National and was still going well when unseating at the 21st last year. Isn’t getting any younger having turned 11, but will relish the heavy ground.


12 FOXY JACKS **

Won over Cheltenham’s cross-country course in November, but hasn’t looked as good over conventional jumps in the last few years. Fell on his only attempt over the Aintree fences in the 2022 Topham and hasn’t shown anything this year to suggest he’s going to suddenly raise his form to the required standard.


13 GALVIN ***

A previous National Hunt Chase winner, he was strongly fancied for last year’s National, but failed to get beyond the first fence. Comes here fresh this time around after Cheltenham’s Cross-Country was called off and has been quietly running into form, but could have done with the ground drying out.


14 FAROUK D’ALENE **

Missed a year through injury after a high-class novice campaign, and hasn’t really been able to rediscover his best form this season. Was pulled up running over hurdles in the Pertemps at Cheltenham last month, and would seem to be high enough in the weights given his lack of recent spark.


15 ELDORADO ALLEN **

An admirable veteran who has run well in a host of big races over the years. This is his first try over the National fences though, and his powers would appear to be on the wane given that he pulled up in the Ultima at Cheltenham. Hasn’t won for more than two years, and for all his back-class, it would be a surprise if that changed here.


16 AIN’T THAT A SHAME **

Was one of the favourites for last year’s race, but his stamina seemed to cut out as he faded into a distant 17th. Won the Thyestes Chase at Gowran Park in January to prove at least some of his ability remains, but has changed hands and will be ridden by amateur David Maxwell, which has to be a negative.


17 VANILLIER ****

Ran a huge race to finish second last year, when he got shuffled a long way back but finished like a train. The course and distance clearly suit, and has been campaigned quietly this season with a return to Aintree in mind. Is only 4lbs higher than 12 months ago and must have every chance of going close again.


18 MR INCREDIBLE ****

Part of the Willie Mullins battalion, and was going extremely well last year until his saddle slipped and he unseated his rider at the Canal Turn on the second circuit. Has only run once since then, finishing second in the Midlands National under a big weight, and has been trained to peak here. A big runner.


19 RUN WILD FRED *

Has looked regressive this season, failing to finish in each of his last three outings. Was pulled up in the Ultima at Cheltenham last time out when he never looked like being a factor, and hasn’t won since November 2021. It’s dangerous to rule out any Gordon Elliott horse, but deserves to be a massive price.


20 LATENIGHTPASS **

Is a former winner over the National fences in the 2022 Foxhunters and is something of a throwback in terms of his progression from the hunter chase sphere. Probably lacks the class to be a factor, but won over Cheltenham’s cross-country course in December and is one of the more interesting long shots.


21 MINELLA CROONER *

Hasn’t gone on as hoped since a promising novice campaign, and has looked badly out of sorts for most of this season. Pulled up in the Ultima at Cheltenham last time out, and while the marathon trip could bring about an improvement, he looks one of the weakest of the Gordon Elliott runners.


22 ADAMANTLY CHOSEN ***

One of the less exposed runners given that he only stepped out of novice company at the start of this season. Started the campaign slowly, but stepped forward when he won at Down Royal last month. That win means he is well-in at the weights, and while he would prefer better ground, he could have a squeak.


23 MAC TOTTIE ***

Boasts a good record over these fences having won the Grand Sefton in 2021 and the Topham in 2022. Missed more than a year through injury before returning in December, but has been running well in the veterans’ sphere. Age and weight are against him, but he is a safe jumper who should get round.


24 CHEMICAL ENERGY ***

Ran well to finish second in last year’s National Hunt Chase, and would appear to be well-suited by this test of stamina. Has only run once this season, finishing in mid-division in the Kerry National, so has presumably been laid-out for this run. Is a reliable jumper, but would probably prefer an easier surface.


25 LIMERICK LACE ****

A classy mare who produced a career-best to win the Mares Chase at Cheltenham last month. That was over two-and-a-half miles, and her stamina at this trip is unproven, but she ran well to finish second in the Troytown in November and her pedigree suggests she could be okay. Is definitely weighted to run well.


26 MEETINGOFTHEWATERS *****

Has progressed rapidly since joining Willie Mullins last autumn, winning the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown in December and finishing a staying-on third in last month’s Ultima at Cheltenham. That run suggested there is still more to come, and he could be extremely well weighted. Has a massive chance.


27 THE GOFFER ***

Has been knocking on the door in some big races for a while now, but didn’t seem to get home in the Ultima at Cheltenham last month, which would be a major concern stepping up in trip here. Has been given a chance at the weights, but others are likely to be staying on better on the testing ground.


28 ROI MAGE **

Ran well to finish seventh last year, but is 12 now and his best days are surely behind him. Proved his well-being when finishing second at Down Royal last month, and the heavy ground might slow up some of his rivals, but it would still be a surprise if at least a couple of younger rivals didn’t outpace him.


29 GLENGOULY **

Something of an unknown quantity given he has only had seven runs over fences, but hinted at some promise finishing second in the Munster National and Thyestes Chase. Disappointed when finishing down the field in the Festival Plate at Cheltenham last month, but his connections merit respect.


30 GALIA DES LITEAUX ***

An unexposed mare who tends to be at her best when the mud is flying. Ran poorly in a listed mares’ race at Exeter last time out, and is taking a huge step up in class. Runs off a featherweight though, stays all day and boasts pieces of novice form that make her mildly interesting.


31 PANDA BOY ****

Still looks unexposed as an eight-year-old, but has been gradually building towards a big one. Finished fifth in last year’s Irish Grand National and stepped up again to finish second in the Paddy Power Chase in Ireland in December. Looks to have got in lightly at the weights, should relish the trip. A leading contender.


32 EKLAT DE RIRE *

The days when he was a rising force look a long way off now, with injuries having held him back. Has tumbled down the weights, but was pulled up at Cheltenham last time out and hasn’t won since October 2021. It would be some training feat if he was to roll back the years and triumph here.


33 CHAMBARD ***

A veteran performer who showed his liking for these fences when he landed the Becher Chase over three miles two in December. Won the Kim Muir at Cheltenham in 2022, so boasts a bit of class, but is 12 now and tends to throw in the odd poor run. Needs a return to Aintree to spark him back into life.


34 KITTY’S LIGHT ***

Swept all before him last spring, winning the Eider Chase, Scottish Grand National and bet365 Gold Cup. Hasn’t looked anything like as good this season, although his campaign was always going to be focused on the next couple of months. Would be a strong contender at his best, but wouldn’t want it too soft.


SCOTT WILSON’S TOP FOUR

1 Meetingofthewaters

2 Panda Boy

3 Delta Work

4 I Am Maximus