Elliott to run eight in Grand National with Death Duty replacing Battleoverdoyen

Gordon Elliott will be responsible for eight of the 40 runners in the Randox Grand National with a late substitution on the team seeing Death Duty replace Battleoverdoyen, who is set to tackle the Topham instead.

Cheltenham Festival-winning jockey Jordan Gainford will take the ride on Death Duty and the only decision left to be made is whether Davy Russell will ride Run Wild Fred or last year's fifth Farclas, both of whom are 25-1 with Paddy Power.

Elliott told the Racing Post on Tuesday morning: "Battleoverdoyen goes for the Topham so Death Duty runs and Jordan will ride him. We have almost all the jockey bookings finalised but we're not sure yet whether Davy will ride Run Wild Fred or Farclas yet."

Jack Kennedy will continue his association with Delta Work, while the McNeill family's retained rider Adrian Heskin will be aboard Escaria Ten. Sean Bowen has got the call up for Samcro, Denis O'Regan is set to partner Mount Ida, while Sean Flanagan will be on Coko Beach.

Death Duty: had been just outside the cut line for the NationalCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Elliott added: "Depending on what Davy rides, those jockey bookings could be rearranged a bit, but that's the way we're thinking at the minute anyway."

If one of Elliott's eight runners does do the business in the Grand National, he would join Fred Rimell and Red Rum's trainer Ginger McCain as the most successful trainer in the history of the great race with four winners.

Is Gordon Elliott's form a cause for concern as the Grand National looms?

Tiger Roll won back-to-back runnings of the race in 2018 and 2019 while his first victory in the race was courtesy of Silver Birch in 2007.

According to the bookmakers, Delta Work provides Elliott with his best chance of joining Rimell and McCain as he is vying for favouritism with Snow Leopardess and Any Second Now at 8-1.

Big-race tips: why this horse can win the 2022 Grand National at Aintree

Gordon Elliott's Aintree team

2 Delta Work Jack Kennedy
5 Run Wild Fred Davy Russell or replacement
10 Mount Ida Denis O'Regan
15 Samcro Sean Bowen
16 Farclas Davy Russell or replacement
17 Escaria Ten Adrian Heskin
20 Coko Beach Sean Flanagan
41 Death Duty Jordan Gainford

5.15 Aintree Saturday: Randox Grand National racecard and betting

2022 Grand National festival offers

• Paddy Power are giving away free bets to new and existing customers, and all you need is an account. Sign up here.
• Sky Bet have got offers for new customers plus money-back offers for existing customers. Check them all out when you sign up here.
• Betfair have extra places and money-back offers for the Aintree festival. Sign up for a new account here.
• To get a free bet from Ladbrokes today, sign up for a new account here.
• Don't have a Coral account? They have an offer for new customers here.
• bet365 have a new customer offer available when you sign up to a new account. Get started here.
• New William Hill customers can claim free bets here as well as benefit from their daily promotions here.
• 888 Sport have free bets for all new customers. Sign up here.
• If you're a new customer, Tote will give you a free bet. Sign up here to claim.

Read these next:

Confidence high for 'incredibly talented' Grand National gamble Snow Leopardess

Blaklion and Poker Party guaranteed National run after confirmations

2022 Randox Grand National: start time, TV details, tickets, contenders and more

Not sure which horse to back? Get the experts' Grand National tips and take advantage of the latest Grand National free bets to get ahead of the field.