Cloudy Lane remains bookies' favourite for Grand National
2005 winner Hedgehunter is among the 99 horses
Monday, 31, Mar 2008 09:34
Cloudy Lane remains the favourite at the five-day declaration stage for Saturday's Grand National at Aintree.
Just 16 horses have pulled out of the four-and-a-half-mile handicap chase including Patsy Hall, Over The Creek and Ungaro.
Irish National runner-up Royal County Star, Royal Auclair, Billyvoddan, Knight Legend, Always Waining, Homer Wells, Ursumman, Cool Running, Oscar India, Final Act, Juful Tennis, Patman Du Charmil and the ill-fated Alexander Taipan have also been taken out.
Cloudy Lane, who is priced at 6/1, is joined by 98 other horses including Comply or Die, Slim Pickings, and Bar.
Only 40 horses can start, those with the lowest weights on the handicap will automatically drop out of the race after the final declaration stage on Thursday.
Hedgehunter, the 2005 winner, and Hi Cloy remain top of the weights at 11st 12lb.
Donald McCain, trainer of Cloudy Lane, is backing the eight-year-old to become his fifth triumph at Aintree.
"He's come out of his last race well. He had a little quiet spell but he's been back in fast work a while now and he's in really good order," McCain said.
"He's in great nick and a bit of sun has made a great difference to all the horses and he's certainly appreciated it.
"His form has surprised me a little bit. We always thought he was a good horse but he has just kept on improving.
"Everything we have thrown at him he has done but he faces his biggest task now."