Elliott’s tilt at National with 26 horses!

HEWICK heads a record 61 Irish-trained entries for the Randox Grand National at Aintree on April 13 for which the start time on has been brought forward 75 minutes to 4.0pm. Shark Hanlon’s bargain basement buy, winner of the King George Chase at Kempton on St Stephen’s Day, is targeting both the Gold Cup and Grand National, which are four weeks apart. Last year’s hero Corach Rambler heads the ante-post betting for Scottish trainer Lucinda Russell, with 2022 winner, the Emmet Mullins-trained Noble Yeats, also popular among the 94 entries. Gordon Elliott has a mammoth 26-strong entry that includes Conflated and Samcro, while Willie Mullins is responsible for 13, with Cotswold Chase winner Capodanno and Irish National hero I Am Maximus part of his team. A review into last year’s race, where protesters delayed the start by 15 minutes, has led to an earlier time, a reduction in runners to 34 from 40, a standing start and a shorter run to the first fence. The weights will be revealed in a fortnight in Liverpool. Sulekha Varma, the clerk of the course at Aintree, defended the earlier start. ‘This was a decision we took after a number of participants and other racing stakeholders raised concerns about the long build-up to the race throughout the day and heightened tension as a result. ‘Bringing forward the start time will also help us to maintain optimal jumping ground.’ Meanwhile, Impaire Et Passe is set to head straight to the Aintree Hurdle in April after being scratched from both the Champion Hurdle and the Stayers’ Hurdle at next month’s Cheltenham Festival. The Willie Mullinstrained six-year-old landed the ‘Ballymore’ at Cheltenham and a Grade One at Punchestown but has suffered defeat in his three races this season.