The first scratching stage for the 2019 Aintree Grand National was yesterday, February 26th. We now know that only 12 of the original 112 entries have been withdrawn.
Most of the big names are still in and that means very little change to the betting market. Tiger Roll is still the favourite with Rathvinden, Elegant Escape and Anibale Fly following closely behind. In reality, no surprises were expected today. The Grand National is weeks away and we still have the Cheltenham Festival to come. That will determine a lot as a large number of the National entries are also scheduled to race there.
But for today, the twelve 2019 Grand National runners that have been scratched are:
- Acapella Bourgeois
- Allyson Monterg
- Auvergnat
- Ballyarthur
- Callet Mad
- Jarob
- Lieutenant Colonel
- Missed Approach
- Rouge Angel
- Skipthecuddles
- The Dutchman
- Western Point
That leaves 100 potential Grand National Runners for the 2019 renewal which will take place on Saturday, April 6th at Aintree Racecourse.
So how does that leave the table? Bristol De Mai is still on top weight so there are no changes on that front. Entering into two different Cheltenham races, including the Gold Cup, his performance there will ultimately play a large part in whether or not he goes to Aintree.
The only horse to be withdrawn from the first 40 is Auvergnat and that means The Last Samuri moves up and is now guaranteed a place at the starting lineup.
The biggest surprise is Missed Approach. Connections had been quite confident in his chances and at a general 33/1 in the betting, his participation was gaining quite a lot of traction.
For those still hoping to make the cut, there is now a three week wait until the next declaration stage. That takes place on March 19th, after the Cheltenham Festival.
Grand National 2019 Potential Runners
| Horse | Age | Wgt | Rating | Owner | Trainer | |
| 1) | BRISTOL DE MAI (FR) | 8 | 11-10 | 168 | Simon Munir & Isaac Souede | Nigel Twiston-Davies |
| 2) | ANIBALE FLY (FR) | 9 | 11-06 | 164 | J P McManus | Tony Martin IRE |
| 3) | ALPHA DES OBEAUX (FR) | 9 | 11-04 | 162 | Gigginstown House Stud | Gordon Elliott IRE |
| 4) | ELEGANT ESCAPE (IRE) | 7 | 11-04 | 162 | John Romans | Colin Tizzard |
| 5) | THE STORYTELLER (IRE) | 8 | 11-03 | 161 | Pat Sloan | Gordon Elliott IRE |
| 6) | VALTOR (FR) | 10 | 11-02 | 160 | Simon Munir & Isaac Souede | Nicky Henderson |
| 7) | EDWULF | 10 | 11-01 | 159 | J P McManus | Joseph O’Brien IRE |
| 8) | TIGER ROLL (IRE) | 9 | 11-01 | 159 | Gigginstown House Stud | Gordon Elliott IRE |
| 9) | OUTLANDER (IRE) | 11 | 11-00 | 158 | Gigginstown House Stud | Gordon Elliott IRE |
| 10) | DON POLI (IRE) | 10 | 10-13 | 157 | Gigginstown House Stud | Gordon Elliott IRE |
| 11) | SUB LIEUTENANT (IRE) | 10 | 10-13 | 157 | Gigginstown House Stud | Henry de Bromhead IRE |
| 12) | GO CONQUER (IRE) | 10 | 10-13 | 157 | Paul & Clare Rooney | Nigel Twiston-Davies |
| 13) | MALA BEACH (IRE) | 11 | 10-12 | 156 | Chris Jones | Gordon Elliott IRE |
| 14) | YALA ENKI (FR) | 9 | 10-12 | 156 | Hills of Ledbury (Aga) | Venetia Williams |
| 15) | BLAKLION | 10 | 10-12 | 156 | Simon Such & Gino Paletta | Nigel Twiston-Davies |
| 16) | MINELLA ROCCO (IRE) | 9 | 10-11 | 155 | J P McManus | Jonjo O’Neill |
| 17) | LAKE VIEW LAD (IRE) | 9 | 10-11 | 155 | Trevor Hemmings | Nick Alexander |
| 18) | BLACK CORTON (FR) | 8 | 10-11 | 155 | The Brooks, Stewart Families & J Kyle | Paul Nicholls |
| 19) | PLEASANT COMPANY (IRE) | 11 | 10-11 | 155 | Malcolm Denmark | Willie Mullins IRE |
| 20) | BALLYOPTIC (IRE) | 9 | 10-11 | 155 | Mills & Mason Partnership | Nigel Twiston-Davies |
| 21) | AMERICAN (FR) | 9 | 10-10 | 154 | The Jago Family Partnership | Harry Fry |
| 22) | DOUNIKOS (FR) | 8 | 10-10 | 154 | Gigginstown House Stud | Gordon Elliott IRE |
| 23) | RATHVINDEN (IRE) | 11 | 10-10 | 154 | Ronnie Bartlett | Willie Mullins IRE |
| 24) | TRAFFIC FLUIDE (FR) | 9 | 10-10 | 154 | Galloping On The South Downs Partnership | Gary Moore |
| 25) | ONE FOR ARTHUR (IRE) | 10 | 10-10 | 154 | Two Golf Widows | Lucinda Russell |
| 26) | SHATTERED LOVE (IRE) | 8 | 10-10 | 154 | Gigginstown House Stud | Gordon Elliott IRE |
| 27) | SIZING CODELCO (IRE) | 10 | 10-10 | 154 | Ann & Alan Potts Limited | Colin Tizzard |
| 28) | TOTAL RECALL (IRE) | 10 | 10-10 | 154 | Slaneyville Syndicate | Willie Mullins IRE |
| 29) | ROCK THE KASBAH (IRE) | 9 | 10-09 | 153 | Diana Whateley | Philip Hobbs |
| 30) | WARRIORS TALE | 10 | 10-09 | 153 | Trevor Hemmings | Paul Nicholls |
| 31) | REGAL ENCORE (IRE) | 11 | 10-08 | 152 | J P McManus | Anthony Honeyball |
| 32) | ROYAL VACATION (IRE) | 9 | 10-08 | 152 | Jean Bishop | Colin Tizzard |
| 33) | MAGIC OF LIGHT (IRE) | 8 | 10-07 | 151 | Ann & Alan Potts Limited | Jessica Harrington IRE |
| 34) | A TOI PHIL (FR) | 9 | 10-07 | 151 | Gigginstown House Stud | Gordon Elliott IRE |
| 35) | MASTER DEE (IRE) | 10 | 10-07 | 151 | Paul & Clare Rooney | Fergal O’Brien |
| 36) | JURY DUTY (IRE) | 8 | 10-07 | 151 | Sideways Syndicate | Gordon Elliott IRE |
| 37) | THE LAST SAMURI (IRE) | 11 | 10-06 | 150 | Paul & Clare Rooney | Harry Fry |
| 38) | NOBLE ENDEAVOR (IRE) | 10 | 10-06 | 150 | Chris Jones | Gordon Elliott IRE |
| 39) | SANDYMOUNT DUKE (IRE) | 10 | 10-06 | 150 | Ronnie Wood | Jessica Harrington IRE |
| 40) | MONBEG NOTORIOUS (IRE) | 8 | 10-06 | 150 | Gigginstown House Stud | Gordon Elliott IRE |
| 41) | RAMSES DE TEILLEE (FR) | 7 | 10-05 | 149 | John White & Anne Underhill | David Pipe |
| 42) | TEA FOR TWO | 10 | 10-05 | 149 | Jane Williams & Len Jakeman | Jane Williams |
| 43) | MALL DINI (IRE) | 9 | 10-04 | 148 | Philip Reynolds | Patrick Kelly IRE |
| 44) | DAKLONDIKE (IRE) | 7 | 10-04 | 148 | Prof Caroline Tisdall | David Pipe |
| 45) | STEP BACK (IRE) | 9 | 10-03 | 147 | Cracker and Smodge Partnership | Mark Bradstock |
| 46) | ULTRAGOLD (FR) | 11 | 10-03 | 147 | Brocade Racing John Romans Terry Warner | Colin Tizzard |
| 47) | MS PARFOIS (IRE) | 8 | 10-02 | 146 | M R Chapman | Anthony Honeyball |
| 48) | SOME NECK (FR) | 8 | 10-02 | 146 | Susannah Ricci | Willie Mullins IRE |
| 49) | PAIROFBROWNEYES (IRE) | 10 | 10-02 | 146 | Fibbage Syndicate | Willie Mullins IRE |
| 50) | BLOW BY BLOW | 8 | 10-02 | 146 | Gigginstown House Stud | Gordon Elliott |
| 51) | SINGLEFARMPAYMENT | 9 | 10-02 | 146 | N T Griffith & H M Haddock | Tom George |
| 52) | VALSEUR LIDO (FR) | 10 | 10-02 | 146 | Gigginstown House Stud | Henry de Bromhead IRE |
| 53) | UP FOR REVIEW (IRE) | 10 | 10-02 | 146 | Andrea & Graham Wylie | Willie Mullins IRE |
| 54) | VIEUX LION ROUGE (FR) | 10 | 10-02 | 146 | Prof Caroline Tisdall & John Gent | David Pipe |
| 55) | ABOLITIONIST (IRE) | 11 | 10-01 | 145 | Mark Albon, John Provan & Chris Stedman | Dr Richard Newland |
| 56) | GIVE ME A COPPER (IRE) | 9 | 10-01 | 145 | Done, Ferguson, Kyle, Mason & Wood | Paul Nicholls |
| 57) | LIVELOVELAUGH (IRE) | 9 | 10-00 | 144 | Susannah Ricci | Willie Mullins IRE |
| 58) | FOLSOM BLUE (IRE) | 12 | 10-00 | 144 | Core Partnership | Gordon Elliott IRE |
| 59) | WILLIE BOY (IRE) | 8 | 10-00 | 144 | Kate & Andrew Brooks | Charlie Longsdon |
| 60) | GENERAL PRINCIPLE (IRE) | 10 | 10-00 | 144 | Gigginstown House Stud | Gordon Elliott IRE |
| 61) | VINTAGE CLOUDS (IRE) | 9 | 10-00 | 144 | Trevor Hemmings | Sue Smith |
| 62) | WALK IN THE MILL (FR) | 9 | 10-00 | 144 | Baroness Harding | Robert Walford |
| 63) | CAPTAIN REDBEARD (IRE) | 10 | 9-13 | 143 | Stuart Coltherd | Stuart Coltherd |
| 64) | BLESS THE WINGS (IRE) | 14 | 9-13 | 143 | Adrian Butler & Stephen O’Connor | Gordon Elliott IRE |
| 65) | BALLYHILL (FR) | 8 | 9-13 | 143 | Simon Such & Gino Paletta | Nigel Twiston-Davies |
| 66) | POLIDAM (FR) | 10 | 9-13 | 143 | Simon Munir & Isaac Souede | Willie Mullins IRE |
| 67) | JUST A PAR (IRE) | 12 | 9-12 | 142 | M Scott | James Moffatt |
| 68) | THE YOUNG MASTER | 10 | 9-12 | 142 | Mike Burbidge & The Old Masters | Neil Mulholland |
| 69) | BAIE DES ILES (FR) | 8 | 9-12 | 142 | Zorka Wentworth | Ross O’Sullivan IRE |
| 70) | EXITAS (IRE) | 11 | 9-12 | 142 | P Middleton, M Lowther | Phil Middleton |
| 71) | JOE FARRELL (IRE) | 10 | 9-12 | 142 | M Sherwood, N Morris & R Curtis | Rebecca Curtis |
| 72) | ISLEOFHOPENDREAMS | 12 | 9-12 | 142 | Kilbroney Racing | Willie Mullins IRE |
| 73) | SHANTOU VILLAGE (IRE) | 9 | 9-12 | 142 | Jane Gerard-Pearse | Neil Mulholland |
| 74) | RED INFANTRY (IRE) | 9 | 9-12 | 142 | Rob Little | Ian Williams |
| 75) | COGRY | 10 | 9-10 | 140 | Graham and Alison Jelley | Nigel Twiston-Davies |
| 76) | OUT SAM | 10 | 9-10 | 140 | D Charlesworth | Gordon Elliott IRE |
| 77) | FACT OF THE MATTER (IRE) | 9 | 9-10 | 140 | The Sandylini Racing Partnership | Jamie Snowden |
| 78) | BALLYDINE (IRE) | 9 | 9-10 | 140 | Alan Halsall | Charlie Longsdon |
| 79) | VIEUX MORVAN (FR) | 10 | 9-10 | 140 | M L Bloodstock Limited | Joseph O’Brien IRE |
| 80) | MR DIABLO (IRE) | 10 | 9-09 | 139 | Aidan Glynn | Philip Dempsey IRE |
| 81) | KINGSWELL THEATRE | 10 | 9-09 | 139 | John J Murray | Michael Scudamore |
| 82) | IMPULSIVE STAR (IRE) | 9 | 9-09 | 139 | Robert Waley-Cohen & Men Holding | Neil Mulholland |
| 83) | MILANSBAR (IRE) | 12 | 9-08 | 138 | Robert Bothway | Neil King |
| 84) | CAROLE’S DESTRIER | 11 | 9-08 | 138 | Mrs C Skipworth | Neil Mulholland |
| 85) | SPLASH OF GINGE | 11 | 9-07 | 137 | John Neild | Nigel Twiston-Davies |
| 86) | MEASUREOFMYDREAMS (IRE) | 11 | 9-07 | 137 | T Howley Jnr/A J O’Ryan/D McDonnell | Gordon Elliott IRE |
| 87) | BORICE (FR) | 8 | 9-07 | 137 | Simon Munir & Isaac Souede | Gordon Elliott IRE |
| 88) | ZIGA BOY (FR) | 10 | 9-07 | 137 | Axom LI | Alan King |
| 89) | KILCREA VALE (IRE) | 9 | 9-05 | 135 | Alan Spence | Nicky Henderson |
| 90) | WOODS WELL (IRE) | 8 | 9-05 | 135 | Gigginstown House Stud | Gordon Elliott IRE |
| 91) | HIGHLAND LODGE (IRE) | 13 | 9-05 | 135 | Cheveley Park Stud | James Moffatt |
| 92) | CALL IT MAGIC (IRE) | 9 | 9-05 | 135 | Zorka Wentworth | Ross O’Sullivan IRE |
| 93) | LOOKING WELL (IRE) | 10 | 9-03 | 133 | David Wesley Yates | Nicky Richards |
| 94) | POTTERS CORNER (IRE) | 9 | 9-02 | 132 | All Stars Sports Racing & J Davies | Christian Williams |
| 95) | BACK TO THE THATCH (IRE) | 7 | 9-02 | 132 | M R & Mrs C J Barnwell | Henry Daly |
| 96) | MORNEY WING (IRE) | 10 | 8-13 | 129 | The Steeple Chasers | Charlie Mann |
| 97) | NED STARK (IRE) | 11 | 8-12 | 128 | Noel Moran/Mrs Valerie Moran | Gordon Elliott IRE |
| 98) | RATHLIN ROSE (IRE) | 11 | 8-12 | 128 | Fergus Wilson | David Pipe |
| 99) | VAN GOGH DU GRANIT (FR) | 10 | 8-11 | 127 | Fergus Wilson | David Pipe |
| 100) | SCOIR MEAR (IRE) | 9 | 8-11 | 127 | J P McManus | Thomas Mullins IRE |
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