Cap’s looking just Grand for National

Ante-post favourite Cloth Cap is among 68 confirmations for saturday’s Randox Grand national at Aintree.

Following several withdrawals at the five-day stage, evan Williams’ Welsh national hero secret Reprieve is 43rd on the list, on the same weight as some neck who is 42nd. the maximum field size is 40, with four reserves eligible if there any defectors from the declared runners before 1pm on Friday.

there were never any concerns of not making the cut for Jonjo o’neill’s Cloth Cap, impressive winner of the Ladbrokes trophy and Kelso’s premier Chase.

He will be ridden by tom scudamore, who said: “It looks like he’s the ideal horse and it’s the old cliche that I wouldn’t swap him for anything. If I was riding something else Cloth Cap would be the one I’d want to ride.

“He stayed four miles plus in the scottish national, he’s put up some great performances this year and he’s a stone wellin. that all points to him having a great chance, but he’s got to go and actually do it.”

While the race has seen many modifications to the famous fences in recent years, scudamore feels if anything it takes even more winning than in the past.

“the national has always been fantastic to ride in and since the modifications it is still a test, you mustn’t underestimate the fences,” he said.

there is a strong Irish contingent with the likes of ted Walsh’s Any second now, Henry de Bromhead’s Minella times, the expected mount of Rachael Blackmore, and Willie Mullins’ Burrows saint.

Bristol De Mai is set to carry top-weight for nigel twistondavies, who is chasing a third win in the race with Yala enki set to be the ride of Bryony Frost.