I Am Maximus heads 57 still in Grand National mix

Champion trainer Mullins has his usual strong team, with Thyestes and Bobbyjo Chase winner Nick Rockett and the Cheveley Park-owned Grangeclare West also towards the top of the weights.

Appreciate It, Minella Cocooner, and Meetingofthewaters are also set to represent Mullins, with Capodanno his only horse in the top 34 not confirmed on Monday morning.

The others who were guaranteed a run but have not taken up the option are L'Homme Presse, Minella Drama, and Velvet Elvis, with the last-named horse trained by Gavin Cromwell.

He will still be strongly represented though with Cheltenham Festival winner Stumptown, Perceval Legallois, and Vanillier, who finished second in 2023.

Former King George winner Hewick, last year's third and 2021 Gold Cup hero Minella Indo and Intense Raffles, Tom Gibney's seven-year-old who won the Irish National last season, are also among a typically strong Irish contingent.

Paul Nicholls has five contenders as he goes in search of a second win in the race, with Kandoo Kid, Bravemansgame, Threeunderthrufive, Hitman, and Stay Away Fay among the 57 horses to stand their ground.

Iroko has been aimed at the race all season by Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero, while the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained Beauport will sport the colours of Bryan and Philippa Burrough, whose Corbiere created a slice of National history when Jenny Pitman became the first successful female trainer in 1983.

Broadway Boy is another for the Twiston-Davies team despite being pulled up in the Ultima at Cheltenham last time.

Following the withdrawals, Celebre d'Allen, Three Card Brag, and Twig are now guaranteed a run in the 34-runner field.

Asked if he was relieved to be assured of a spot, Twig's trainer Ben Pauling said: "Very much so. It's brilliant. It's been the aim for his whole season really.

"He's going to go there as an exciting horse and lively outsider, as I would maybe describe it.

"It's not like it used to be. It's now more a race where a lot of very good horses are featuring in the first three or four and I'm not sure we've got an abundance in hand, but the National's an extraordinary trip and an extraordinary test.

"So you're never going to know how they take to it — if they take to it and they get into a good rhythm, I think he'll stay very well and he seems in good order."

Duffle Coat is set to take the final place in the race, as he boasts a higher current rating than both Shakem Up'Arry and Roi Mage, with all three due to carry 10st 4lb. There will also be four reserves.

Watering will continue at Aintree as a warm and dry week leads into the Grand National meeting.

The going at the track is currently good, good to soft in places on the Mildmay hurdle and chase tracks, with the Grand National course described as good to soft at present.

It has been a dry early spring so far, with 17.5 millimetres of rain falling throughout March and ground staff therefore starting to water from the week commencing March 17.

That watering will continue as there is presently no rain forecast either before or during the meeting, with a relatively warm week due before three mild spring days from Thursday to Saturday.

"The Grand National course remains good to soft, and the Mildmay course, both chase and hurdle, is good, good to soft in places," said Jon Pullin, acting clerk of the course at Aintree.

"It has continued to be dry and the forecast is dry right the way through racing, temperatures are due to lift a couple of degrees over the next two or three days.

"We could see temperatures as high as 18 degrees, but then it does drop back down to about 15 degrees on Saturday itself.

"Given the forecast — there's no sign of any sort of rain — we will continue to water to maintain the going and improve it if necessary.

"Watering commenced on the week of the 17th and we've continued as necessary from then on.

"The forecast at the moment looks very settled and bright, there is plenty of sunshine across all three days so it should be great weather for all racegoers."