ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO THE BIG RACE

5.15 SATURDAY,, MAXIMUM 40 RUNNERS

BARRY gERAgHTY, No 1 jockey to owner JP McManus who could have five runners, has chosen to ride Anibale Fly, who finished third in the gold Cup. Noel Fehily rides McManus’s top weight Minella Rocco.

CAUSE OF CAUSES, McManus-owned 2017 Grand National runner-up and a three-time Cheltenham Festival winner, heads into retirement after being pulled out of the race by trainer Gordon Elliott.

CHAMPION jockey Richard Johnson, who suffered an injury scare after a paddock fall at Kempton, is still searching for a ride. He has ridden in 20 Nationals.

CORAL make Tiger Roll 8-1 favourite but believe by race time his slot will be claimed by Blaklion, currently a 9-1 shot.

NIgEL TwistonDavies-trained Double Ross has claimed the final guaranteed starting spot at No 40. Final declarations will be on Thursday when four reserves are also named. GOING: Soft (Good to soft in places)