Grand National Runners and Riders

Hedgehunter

11-12 Willie Mullins

One of the National's great specialists of recent times, with a win in 2005 and second off top-weight in 2006. An interrupted preperation didn't help last year and showed the old fire still burns when a very credible second in a grade 2 last time out. Sure to run a grand race despite now being 12 years old.

Hi Cloy

11-12 Michael Hourigan

Won the grade 1 Melling Chase at the course in 2006 and has been mixing it with the best for a good few years. Those involved with him have often stated he would go really well in this race but is getting on a bit and it's a tough task giving weight to the entire field.

Knowhere

11-11 Nigel Twiston-Davies

Jumping problems have been sorted out this year and he has stepped up to the highest level, although never got anywhere near Denman when 6th in the Gold Cup. Defeat of Our Vic and Neptune Collonges at Cheltenham in January reads very well and capable of running with credit despite a hefty weight on his back.

Mr Pointment

11-11 Paul Nicholls

His champion trainer viewed him as an ideal National type even before he won the Becher Chase fairly easily on only his fifth start over fences. Leapt to favouritism for this but the handicapper has taken no chances and given him a hefty penalty. Broke a blood vessel when very disappointing against Cloudy Lane at Doncaster.

Ollie Magern

11-11 Nigel Twiston-Davies

Little front-runner has won many fans in his four years of steeplechasing with a combination of bold jumping and tremendous guts. Has struggled at the top level for most of this season but will love the challenge of the big fences and supporters are sure of an exciting run for their money.

Turko

11-10 Paul Nicholls

Improved to compete at the top level after a wind operation, and as a six year old there should be more to come, but hard to believe a gruelling test of stamina carrying nearly 12 stone is ideal at this stage of his career.

Madison Du Berlais

11-9 David Pipe

Usually performs with credit and Hennessy fourth behind Denman suggests he needs this longer trip nowadays, but has paid the price for running honestly and is firmly in the grip of the handicapper.

Simon

11-7 John Spearing

The 2007 Racing Post Chase winner was in the process of running a huge race when falling at the 25th fence last year. There is every chance he would have been involved in the finish and form this season gives room for cause for encouragement.

Opera Mundi

11-6 Paul Nicholls

As a still fairly inexperienced six year old it would make sense to give the horse a few years before testing him here. Does not look well handicapped enough to take the risk.

Iron Man

11-5 Peter Bowen

Ran up a sequence of wins last summer which gives him the opportunity to run here, but shown little since and hasn't got round in two attempts over the big fences.

Fundamentalist

11-4 Nigel Twiston-Davies

Touted as a potential world-beater when beating Inglis Drever at the festival in 2004 but has not lived up to the billing. Two wins this season shows there is still some enthusiasm left and likely to enjoy the challenge posed by the big fences.

Butlers Cabin

11-3 Jonjo O'Neill

Won at Cheltenham before landing a brave double with victory in the Irish Grand National last April. He needed oxygen after both those runs, and this season has been much lighter, with this as the only target, although he has been beaten a total of 134 lengths in three runs. Will likely try and give champion jockey Tony McCoy an elusive first success.

Slim Pickings

11-3 Tom Taaffe

Was bombing along going to the final few flights in last year's race, but just run out of puff and was beaten two lengths into 3rd. This season has been geared with one race in mind and despite a bit more weight on his back he must be a leading contender to give the Irish another triumph.

Chelsea Harbour

11-2 Tom Mullins

Already run nine times this year but getting better and landed a trial at Punchestown off top weight. The ground was very bad that day, but if the rain comes at Aintree he would definitely come into the equation.

Vodka Bleu

11-2 David Pipe

Quirky character who has been rejuvenated by the addition of blinkers this season, landing valuable handicaps at Ascot and Cheltenham. The sort of horse who could very well take to the challenge but there are big stamina doubts.

L'Ami

11-1 Francois Doumen

Fourth in the 2006 Gold Cup, he has mixed it with the best throughout his career without winning. The handicapper has dropped him a long way down the weights and there is every possibility of improving on last year's tenth place.

Snowy Morning

11-1 Willie Mullins

Runner-up behind Denman in last year's Royal & Sun Alliance Chase, he bounced back from a fall in the Hennessy Gold Cup with two facile hurdle victories. Looked well in at the weights, but proved disappointing at Fairyhouse on his most recent start.

Bewleys Berry

11-0 Howard Johnson

The big fences bring out the best in him and was going well in the lead when he fell at Becher's second time round last year. It is not worth speculating where he would have finished but has been given a fair weight to try again.

Contraband

11-0 Paul Murphy

Has been a good horse on the flat and over jumps with an Arkle victory to his name, however is well past his best and only running here to give his greedy owner a day out.

Mckelvey

11-0 Peter Bowen

Another 50 yards and he would have won the race last year, but connections had to settle for a fast-finishing second. He broke down beyond the winning post, but has recovered well enough to be on course to go one better.

Joaaci

10-13 David Pipe

Allegedly still has a big race in him but totally unreliable nowadays and makes no appeal.

Point Barrow

10-13 Pat Hughes

Was a well fancied favourite last year when he failed to get beyond the first fence. A former winner of an Irish Grand National off top-weight tells all you need to know about his ability in staying chases.

Cornish Rebel

10-12 Mrs L Williamson

Has spent most of his career in the shadow of his brother Best Mate, but always had plenty of ability as well as a few quirks. Pulled-up in 2006, it's hard to see why he should run better at his advanced age.

D'Argent

10-12 Alan King

The front-running grey has been a fixture on the staying chase scene for a few years, but this will be his first tilt at the National. Can be a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde character, but when on song he knows how to win, and with no doubts over stamina and jumping he looks a lively outsider.

No Full

10-12 Eoin Doyle

Never really shown anything that marks him down as a big race winner-in-waiting, and major stamina worries.

Baily Breeze

10-11 Mouse Morris

Showed some smart form a couple of years ago but record since is uninspiring. Trainer is well respected and good ground may bring about some improvement, but seems up against it.

Bob Hall

10-11 Jonjo O'Neill

Looked to have a progressive profile, but has offered nothing on his last two runs and would have big stamina doubts anyway.

Cloudy Lane

10-11 Donald McCain

The McCain's appear to have another live contender for Hedgehunter's owner Trevor Hemmings. Winner of the Kim Muir at last year's Cheltenham Festival, he has won three big chases on the bounce, is still progressing and a worthy favourite.

King Johns Castle

10-11 Arthur Moore

Subject of a recent gamble, the nine year old is very consistent, with a series of places at both graded and handicap level in Ireland. Does things easily enough that the marathon trip is within his compass, and holds a definite squeak of becoming the third grey winner in race history.

Mon Mome

10-11 Venetia Williams

Usually a model of consistency in staying handicap chases, he has had a much easier time of it this season and may come here fresh enough to run a big race. Good each-way chance.

Cornish Sett

10-10 Paul Nicholls

Used to be alright if a bit of a monkey but has shown little on last two starts to suggest he can bounce back to form, however good ground and a flat track suit and isn't a complete no-hoper.

Naunton Brook

10-10 Nigel Twiston-Davies

Tumbling Dice

10-10 Tom Taaffe

Put up some good performances at around 2 - 2 1/2 miles over the years, and looks like he will enjoy the challenge of the big fences, but it's hard to get away from stamina limitations.

Backbeat

10-9 Howard Johnson

Spent plenty of time on the treatment table but showed he retains an amount of ability when winning his comeback at Sandown. Flopped next time out and very questionable whether he will improve.

Comply Or Die

10-9 David Pipe

Lots of good form at graded level before missing last season through injury. Took a few races to find his stride again but won Eider Chase at Newcastle off top-weight on last start. Will race off a nice mark and has plenty of stamina.

Idle Talk

10-9 Donald McCain

Plenty of people had him down for a big prize over fences one day but has become very clumsy, unseating his rider in 4 of his last 10 races, including at the 19th here last year.

Kelami

10-9 Francois Doumen

Brother to L'Ami and trained alongside him in France. Pulled up in the race last year, but has the ability to run much better and showed his wellbeing with a good second in the Racing Post Chase at Sandown.

Milan Deux Mille

10-9 David Pipe

He has ability but there is absolutely no evidence to suggest he will be suited by 4 1/2 miles and the petrol is sure to be running on empty if he manages to get around.

Nadover

10-9 Charlie Mann

Two biggest wins over fences have come in Chepstow slogs at a much lower level, and trainer has claimed his stamina doesn't even last out over 3 miles.

Black Apalachi

10-8 Dessie Hughes

Hasn't won for two years but this doesn't really do him justice as he has plenty of good efforts to his name. Shapes as if he needs an extreme trip nowadays and if it rains there will be plenty of worse outsiders.

Philson Run

10-8 Nick Williams

Finished fourth last year at 100/1 on ground that would have been faster than ideal. Showed he has not regressed in two runs this season and granted more give in the ground would have a fair chance of finishing in the places again.

Ardaghey

10-7 Nigel Twiston-Davies

An honest galloper with proven stamina, and his jumping holds up nowadays. If he gets into the race the 100/1 price could be worth a nibble.

Dun Doire

10-7 Tony Martin

Ran up a great sequence of wins in 2005/2006 culminating with a power-packed finish at Cheltenham. Well-fancied for this race last year but was tapped for speed on the quicker ground and will find things happening too quickly again.

Joes Edge

10-7 Ferdy Murphy

Started joint favourite for the race last year after a 50/1 triumph at the Cheltenham Festival. A former Scottish Grand National winner, he will need fast ground to have any chance of victory.