Heavy going as Rocco goes for glory at Aintree

O’Neill horse shoulders top weight

Gold Present was the only withdrawal at yesterday’s final 48hour declaration stage for the Randox Health Grand National at Aintree tomorrow.

The Jonjo O’Neill-trained Minella Rocco, runner-up in the 2017 Cheltenham Gold Cup, will shoulder top weight of 11st 10lb, with Noel Meade’s Road To Riches sneaking in at the bottom of the 40-runner field.

Blaklion is one of two runners for Nigel Twiston-Davies after he finished fourth in last year’s race and he will be joined by stablemate Double Ross.

Gordon Elliott will aim to cap an unbelievable season with Tiger Roll, Ucello Conti and the 13-year-old Bless The Wings. He is not the only teenager in the race, though, as fellow 13-yearold Raz De Maree will try to supplement the Welsh National he won in January when he was ridden by James Bowen.

This time Bowen rides Shantou Flyer for Richard Hobson, while his elder brother Sean will be on Warriors Tale for Paul Nicholls, who also runs Vicente.

The Last Samuri was second to Rule The World two years ago and, while he was unplaced last year, trainer Kim Bailey was delighted with his third behind Tiger Roll in the Cross Country at Cheltenham last time.

“I’m very happy with his preparation and I thought he ran a fantastic race in the Cross Country,” said Bailey.

“He’s as good as he was two years ago, but unfortunately he’s carrying nearly a stone more than he was then, which makes it difficult.”

Total Recall, Gold Cup third Anibale Fly, Seeyouatmidnight and Baie Des Iles, for the husband-and-wife team of Ross O’Sullivan and Katie Walsh, are other fancied runners.

Bryony Frost will ride in the National for the first time when she is reunited with Milansbar, on whom she won the Classic Chase at Warwick in January.