Grand National day updates: Noble Yeats strongly supported to land another famous National success

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The big story: 2022 hero Noble Yeats has big support as National market goes Mullins mad

Noble Yeats has been one of the best-backed horses this afternoon in the Randox Grand National (4.00) as he bids for a remarkable second success in the famous race.

The Emmet Mullins-trained nine-year-old landed the National at 50-1 two years ago on Sam Waley-Cohen's final ride and finished a solid fourth in the race last year. He also showed he thrives on Merseyside when winning the Grade 2 Many Clouds Chase last season.

Since being a general 20-1 chance overnight, and drifting to 25-1 in places this morning, he has had sustained support and is now 12-1 to join an elite group of multiple Grand National winners.

He is set to shoulder top weight of 11st 12lb under Harry Cobden, who rode him to Cleeve Hurdle success in January, while Mullins has already enjoyed glory over the National fences this week with Its On The Line in the Foxhunters' Chase.

Noble Yeats triumphs in last year's Grand National and we have everything you need to find this year's winner of the great race

Noble Yeats winning the 2022 Grand NationalCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

National punters are also latching on to Willie Mullins, whose big-race hope I Am Maximus has shortened to 6-1 favourite. The trainer is also represented by Mr Incredible and Capodanno, two of the day's big market movers.

I Am Maximus, the ride of Willie Mullins' stable jockey Paul Townend, has seen steady support throughout the week and has gone clear in the betting with defending champion Corach Rambler drifting to as big as 17-2.

He defeated last season's National runner-up Vanillier by 14 lengths last time out and was given a glowing endorsement on ITV Racing with AP McCoy revealing he was the horse he would like to ride most in the race.

Paddy Power spokesman Paul Binfield said: “I Am Maximus won the same race recognised as a key trial for the National at Fairyhouse last time that his trainer Willie Mullins won with Hedgehunter in 2005 and last year’s Irish National hero has now gone clear favourite following sustained support since yesterday evening.”

This afternoon the Mullins-trained Mr Incredible has been another hugely popular fancy in the market, shortening to 17-2 (from 14-1) on the Betfair Sportsbook. He unseated at the second fence 12 months ago but made a promising comeback in the Midlands Grand National.

His stablemate Capodanno has also been a notable mover, shortening to 25-1 (from 40) with Paddy Power. The eight-year-old finished fourth when last seen in the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

Paddy Power have also received support for Galvin, who is 28-1 (from 50). Coko Beach is 20-1 (from 22) and huge outsiders Mac Tottie and Eldorado Allen have shortened to 66-1 (from 80 and 100 respectively).

I Am Maximus: Fairyhouse specialist lines up in the Bobbyjo Chase

I Am Maximus: clear Grand National favouriteCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Spokesman Paul Binfield said earlier this morning: "Paddy Power Chase runner-up Panda Boy is drifting and we’ve seen each-way support for a number of contenders who were rated 22-1 or bigger.”

Capodanno is 25-1 (from 40) with Coral while another for Mullins, Janidil, is 80-1 (from 125). Noble Yeats has been another mover shortening to 14-1 (from 25).

Coral's David Stevens said: "At the head of the market I Am Maximus is shading the battle for favouritism over Corach Rambler, while Ain't That A Shame, Foxy Jacks, Janidil and Coko Beach have emerged as popular public picks on this unique and special day."

Limerick Lace is another to have been well found by punters. The mare, whose brother Inothewayurthinkin won a Grade 1 at the meeting on Friday, has been the big mover in the National betting this week having shortened from 25-1 after a glowing review from her owner. She comes here following a victory at the Cheltenham Festival last time out and is ranging from 17-2 to 10-1.

Undoubtedly the most popular winner of Saturday's race would be Kitty's Light. He has been a light in dark times for the family of trainer Christian Williams after his daughter was diagnosed with leukaemia at the age of six last March.

Last season's Scottish National hero is a 14-1 chance to become the first Welsh-trained winner of the race since 1905.

Having drifted to 14-1 this morning, Meetingofthewaters has been supported back into a single-figure price and is now 9-1.

Updated at 2.40pm

Non-runners: Chambard and Run Wild Fred out of Grand National

The Grand National field has been reduced to 32 runners after Run Wild Fred was the second horse to be withdrawn from the line-up.

The 50-1 shot, who finished second in the 2021 Irish Grand National, was lame on raceday morning and the news comes after lameness also ruled Chambard out of the contest.

The 66-1 outsider was one of just five previous winners over the Grand National fences, having won the Becher Chase at the track in December.

Chambard – who also won the Kim Muir at last season's Cheltenham Festival – was bidding for another surprise National win for trainer Venetia Williams, who enjoyed success with the 100-1 shot Mon Mome in 2009.

A system allowing reserves to replace non-runners in the Grand National was scrapped in 2023 after feedback suggested it was confusing some racing fans and bettors and hampering the production of raceday data supply.

3.05
10 Proschema (going)
11 Sire du Berlais (lame)

4.00
19 Run Wild Fred (lame)
33 Chambard (lame)

5.35
Tailorman (infected foot)

Updated at 1.45pm

Ain't That A Shame feared most by Ladbrokes

Ladbrokes have revealed Ain't That A Shame is the biggest loser of the 32 runners in the Grand National after sustained support throughout the week.

The ten-year-old is 28-1 (from 40) having won the Thyestes Handicap Chase on his latest start in January. He has since been purchased by amateur jockey David Maxwell, who will take the ride.

Ain't That A Shame will look to give Henry de Bromhead a second victory in the race, having scored with Minella Times in 2021.

Ladbrokes' Nicola McGeady said: “Punters are ploughing into Ain’t That A Shame all week and that has ramped up a notch this morning. The Irish raider stands as our worst result in the book.

"There has been a changing of the guard at the head of the betting with I Am Maximus knocking last year’s winner Corach Rambler off the top spot.”

Posted at 11am

Going update: National course good to soft in places after dry spell

The ground is now soft, good to soft in places on the Grand National course after a dry night at Aintree.

It represents quite a change since the meeting started on Thursday. The first of the three races over the famous fences was staged on ground described as heavy, soft in places just two days ago, while the second, the Topham Chase on Friday, was run on soft ground.

The going has also dried into good to soft, soft in places (from soft) on the Mildmay chase and hurdles track, which the six races other than the National will be run on.

Aintree did not get the forecast drizzle on Friday but showers – bringing in no more than 2mm of rainfall – could arrive during National day.

Clerk of the course Sulekha Varma warned the ground would still ride testing, with the only good to soft areas of the course between the 12th and 14th fence.

Varma, speaking on ITV Racing on Saturday morning, said: "Aintree is a course that can dry given the opportunity, it's been warm and breezy and it's done exactly that.

"I would say I think the ground will be quite dead - I don't think it's going to be like the watered spring good to soft ground. It's certainly not as deep as it has been the last couple of days."

Updated at 10.30am