'He's the sort you want' - Lavelle delighted as Eclair Surf makes National cut

Emma Lavelle spoke of her relief following a nervy week after leading Randox Grand National contender Eclair Surf was confirmed in the final line-up for the iconic £1 million handicap on Thursday morning.

He was number 43 on the list of runners heading into the declaration stage, and as such would require three horses to be withdrawn from the field. Battleoverdoyen and Court Maid were already set to come out but a further two were not declared which allowed Eclair Surf and Henry Daly-trained hope Fortescue to occupy the final two places in the field.

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Nicky Henderson's sole chance Caribean Boy was ruled out with a pulled hamstring while Gordon Elliott reduced his Aintree team to seven after Farclas was removed.

The news sparked some interest in the betting market with Eclair Surf cut to 12-1 (from 14s) and he may head to Aintree as the second best British-trained chance according to bookmakers. For Lavelle, the mood at her Wiltshire base was relief as she sends runners to the National for only the second time in her career.

"It hasn't been the most relaxing week," she joked. "We're delighted we're getting the opportunity to run and I've got slightly tired eyes from looking at the computer screen. There were calls going around that we might get in last night but until 10am has been and gone you can't take anything for granted."

He now joins stablemate De Rasher Counter at Aintree, who is number 19, but Lavelle's stable jockey Tom Bellamy has opted to ride Eclair Surf.

The eight-year-old produced two solid efforts in top staying races, having impressed in the Classic Chase at Warwick earlier this season – the race One For Arthur won before going on to Aintree glory in 2017 – and then finished a good second behind Saturday's subsequent Scottish National winner Win My Wings in the Eider.

"It's really good news, it's so exciting to have two horses in the Grand National who both have decent chances," Lavelle added. "You need luck in running but they've both had the right kind of prep and are the sort of horse you want."

Daly has had five runners in the National, with Behrajan's tenth-place effort in 2003 the best of them, but bottomweight Fortescue heads to Merseyside with a live chance. He won at Ascot shortly after the weights were published, so will run officially 4lb well in.

Fortescue: will bid to give Henry Daly a first National successCredit: Edward Whitaker

"It wasn't a good morning watching the decs but that's racing," Daly said. "It would have been very frustrating to be 4lb well in and not run. Now he's got to go and prove it. He gallops, he jumps and he stays – I don't know what else you need but I've never won it, so we'll find out, won't we?"

Commodore is the first reserve on the list, ahead of School Boy Hours (42), Romain De Senam (43) and Roi Mage (44). The cut-off point to allow reserves into the race if one of the 40 is withdrawn is at 1pm on Friday.

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Eddie O'Leary, racing manager for Gigginstown House Stud, said Farclas will instead be aimed the Boylesports Irish Grand National on April 18. The Grade 1 winner was around a 25-1 chance for the National before Thursday's declarations.

"The only reason why Farclas doesn't run is because we want to keep a very nice horse for the Irish Grand National," O'Leary said. "That's a very special race and we'd like to have a decent chance of winning that. We chose the Irish National over Aintree because we'd love to win that race."

Grand National latest betting

William Hill: 7-1 Snow Leopardess, 8-1 Delta Work, 10-1 Minella Times, Any Second Now, 12-1 Escaria Ten, Eclair Surf, 14-1 Fiddlerontheroof, Longhouse Poet, Enjoy D'Allen, 20-1 Run Wild Fred, 22-1 Burrows Saint, 25-1 Fortescue, Cloth Cap, School Boy Hours, 28-1 Good Boy Bobby, 33-1 bar

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