Sixteen horses scratched from the 2023 Randox Grand National as 57 stand their ground for Aintree

Becher Chase winner Ashtown Lad and 2022 Irish Grand National hero Lord Lariat were among 16 horses scratched from this year's Randox Grand National (5.15) on Tuesday, with 57 remaining in contention following the latest acceptance stage.

Successful over the National fences in December, Ashtown Lad remains in contention for the Topham Chase a day earlier instead, with trainer Dan Skelton set to rely on Coral Gold Cup winner Le Milos in the big one.

Hewick and Conflated were unsurprisingly withdrawn from the famous race, which takes place on Saturday, April 15, with the latter set to contest the Betway Bowl at the meeting instead. Their absences mean last year's runner-up Any Second Now will be the sole horse to compete off top weight of 11st 12lb.

Other notable scratchings include Happygolucky, Ga Law, Threeunderthrufive, Death Duty and Farclas, who was fifth behind Minella Times in the 2021 running.

The 16 defections mean that the Tim Vaughan-trained Eva's Oskar has sneaked into the race's final running berth at number 40, with the well-fancied Our Power needing one more horse to be withdrawn to be guaranteed a place.

Irish-trained horses account for 39 of the 57 that remain in the Grand National and are highly likely to dominate the race, with 29 of those already in the guaranteed top 40.

Despite withdrawing five horses, Gordon Elliott still has 13 runners in contention, while Willie Mullins has six remaining including National Hunt Chase winner Gaillard Du Mesnil.

The Lucinda Russell-trained Corach Rambler heads the Grand National betting at 6-1, with last year's winner Noble Yeats next best at 8-1. Any Second Now, Delta Work and Gaillard Du Mesnil are available at 12-1.

The last confirmations stage for the National will be on Monday, April 10, with declarations for the final field made on April 13.

The horses taken out

Hewick
Conflated
Franco De Port
Chris's Dream
Cilaos Emery
Lord Lariat
Ashtown Lad
Rapper
Glamorgan Duke
Pencilfulloflead
Happygolucky
Ga Law
Remastered
Farclas
Threeunderthrufive
Death Duty

5.15 Aintree: Randox Grand National (Saturday, April 15)

Sky Bet: 7 Corach Rambler, Noble Yeats, 10 Gaillard Du Mesnil, 12 Delta Work, 14 Any Second Now, Longhouse Poet, Mr Incredible, 16 Conflated, Galvin, 20 Le Milos, 25 bar

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