Synchronised and Notre Pere have been ruled out of Saturday's Grand National after the duo were withdrawn from the field at the five-day declaration stage as The Midnight Club continues to head the betting for the race.
Blue Square are a best priced 9/1 on the favourite winning the race and the firm are offering all new customers a free £20 bet on him landing the spoils for Ruby Walsh and Willie Mullins.
Last year’s winner Don’t Push It remains at the head of the weights and Arbor Supreme, Our Monty and Royal Rosa will all be fighting for the two final places in the 40 horse field.
The three are all bracketed on 10st 3lbs and share 39th place in the line-up for the Merseyside marathon, leaving handicapper Phil Smith with a tricky decision on who to hand the final spot to.
Arbor Supreme is likely to take his chance as he has finished second in a race since the weights were published, however, Royal Rosa and Our Monty have been kept fresh for their trip to Liverpool and one of the duo will miss out.
Always Waining, Golden Kite and Skippers Brig are next in the list, and will also be ranked by Smith as the final field for the four-mile war begins to take shape.
The Midnight Club has also been trimmed to 2/1 (from 9/4) to be sent off favourite for the race after punters were keen to back him to head the betting at the off. What A Friend is a 4/1 shot to go off jolly whilst Backstage and Don’t Push It are next in the market at 11/2.
“It’s going to take some serious money to usurp The Midnight Club as favourite over the next few days but whilst he’ll more than likely head the market on the morning of the race, that's not a cast-iron guarantee that he’ll be sent off the National jolly,” said totesport spokesman George Primarolo.
2011 Aintree Grand National likely field
1 Don't Push It (IRE) Jonjo O'Neill 11st 10lb
2 Tidal Bay (IRE) Howard Johnson 11st 9lb
3 Vic Venturi (IRE) D. T. Hughes, Ireland 11 11st 6lb
4 What A Friend Paul Nicholls 11st 6lb
5 Majestic Concorde (IRE) D. K. Weld, Ireland 11st 5lb
6 Or Noir de Somoza (FR) David Pipe 11st 5lb
7 Dooneys Gate (IRE) W. P. Mullins, Ireland 11st 4lb
8 Big Fella Thanks Ferdy Murphy 11st 1lb 9
9 Ballabriggs (IRE) Donald McCain 11st 0lb 10
10 The Tother One (IRE) Paul Nicholls 11st 0lb
11 Niche Market (IRE) Paul Nicholls 10st 13lb
12 The Midnight Club (IRE) W. P. Mullins, Ireland 10st 13lb
13 Backstage (FR) Gordon Elliott, Ireland 10st 12lb
14 Chief Dan George (IRE) James Moffatt 10st 12lb
15 Silver By Nature Lucinda Russell 10st 12lb
16 Calgary Bay (IRE) Henrietta Knight 10st 10lb
17 Killyglen (IRE) Stuart Crawford, Ireland 10st 10lb
18 Oscar Time (IRE) M. M. Lynch, Ireland 10st 9lb
19 Becauseicouldntsee (IRE) Noel Glynn, Ireland 10st 8lb l
20 Comply Or Die (IRE) David Pipe 10st 8lb
21 Northern Alliance (IRE) A. J. Martin, Ireland 10st 8lb
22 Quinz (FR) Philip Hobbs 10st 8lb
23 Quolibet (FR) Jonjo O'Neill 10st 8lb
24 Grand Slam Hero (IRE) Nigel Twiston-Davies 10st 7lb
25 Roll Along (IRE) Nigel Twiston-Davies 10st 7lb
26 King Fontaine (IRE) Malcolm Jefferson 10st 6lb
27 State of Play Evan Williams 10st 6lb
28 Hello Bud (IRE) Nigel Twiston-Davies 10st 5lb
29 In Compliance (IRE) D. T. Hughes, Ireland 10st 5lb
30 Santa's Son (IRE) Howard Johnson 10st 5lb
31 West End Rocker (IRE) Alan King10st 5lb
32 Bluesea Cracker (IRE) James Motherway, Ireland 10st 4lb
33 Can't Buy Time (IRE) Jonjo O'Neill 10st 4lb
34 Character Building (IRE) John Quinn 10st 4lb
35 Ornais (FR) Paul Nicholls 10st 4lb
36 Piraya (FR) David Pipe 10st 4lb
37 Surface To Air Chris Bealby 10st 4lb
38 That's Rhythm (FR) Martin Todhunter 10st 4lb
39 Arbor Supreme (IRE) W. P. Mullins, Ireland 10st 3lb
40 Our Monty (IRE) W. P. Mullins, Ireland 10st 3lb
or
40 Royal Rosa (FR) Howard Johnson 10st 3lb
42 Always Waining (IRE) Peter Bowen 10st 2lb
42 Golden Kite (IRE) Adrian Maguire, Ireland 10st 2lb
42 Skippers Brig (IRE) Nicky Richards 10st 2lb
