Ireland's Grand National team is missing its captain - but expect more dominance

It's highly unlikely that this week's action at Aintree will be monopolised by Irish-trained runners in the same style as the Cheltenham Festival, but don't be surprised if the Randox Grand National is dominated by the visiting team, who appear well-stocked with high-class ammunition for the feature.

Three of the last four editions of the Liverpool highlight have gone the way of Irish-trained runners, and although the country's leading course specialist Tiger Roll is missing from the 4m2½f test for 2021, it's worth remembering that his last two wins came in blanket Irish finishes.

There were four Irish-trained runners among the first five home when the Grand National was last staged in 2019, while the 2016 and 2018 runnings saw Irish runners fill five of the first six places.