Williams refuses to panic as Secret Reprieve still not guaranteed National run

Coral Welsh Grand National winner Secret Reprieve has moved to within three places of a guaranteed start in Saturday's Randox Grand National following Monday's forfeit stage.

With a maximum permitted field of 40, the number of entries left in the race was reduced from 77 to 68, with Secret Reprieve moving up from 50 to 43.

A best-priced 14-1 before the latest forfeit stage, Secret Reprieve is rated the same as Some Neck on 10st 1lb and the BHA's senior handicapper Martin Greenwood will announce later in the week procedures for deciding which horse will gain a place in the line-up in instances of a tiebreak.

Secret Reprieve: winner of the Coral Welsh Grand National this seasonCredit: David Davies (Getty Images)

James Bowen was booked for the ride by trainer Evan Williams over the weekend after Adam Wedge lost his race to be fit in time for Saturday.

"I'd much prefer to be sweating to get in off a low weight than knowing we were going to get a run with 11st 7lb on our back," said Williams. "If we get in that will be lovely and if we don't that'll be lovely too. We're very cool about it and it's out of our hands.

"I understand if people above us want to run and I have no issues with that whatsoever. Thursday morning we'll know our fate and we'll take our medicine either way."

Bristol De Mai remains alone among the original topweights from when the handicap was framed in February and his presence ensures that no more than seven horses will carry 11st or more, against 14 when the race was last run in 2019.

Five entries had already been scratched since the last confirmation stage, while, as trainer Nicky Henderson had previously warned, both Beware The Bear and Pym were not declared on Monday from among those with a guaranteed place in the starting 40.

Randox Grand National card and betting

Willie Mullins also took out Brahma Bull, who finished 13th in the BoyleSports Irish Grand National on Monday.

Farclas and Jack Kennedy will spearhead the Gigginstown challenge for Saturday's Randox Grand NationalCredit: Patrick McCann

Among those at the foot of the weights guaranteed a run is the gambled-on Minella Times – the possible mount of Rachael Blackmore – and Farclas, who Gigginstown House Stud have confirmed to the Racing Post will take on the National rather than the shorter Topham Handicap Chase on Friday, a race for which he was second favourite.

Gold Cup-winning jockey Jack Kennedy is in line for the ride on Farclas, a 33-1 chance, while several other riding arrangements have also been confirmed for Denise Foster's National squad.

Tiger Roll's partner in his three Cheltenham Festival wins over the cross-country fences, Keith Donoghue, will be aboard The Storyteller, while man of the moment Jody McGarvey will ride the veteran Alpha Des Obeaux.

In other jockey news, reigning champion Brian Hughes will be reunited with Lake View Lad, on whom he won the Many Clouds Chase over the Mildmay course last December.

Brian Hughes is interviewed after winning the Many Clouds Chase on Lake View LadCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Coral estimate that the biggest race of the year being run two days before betting shops are allowed to reopen in England will have a significant impact on turnover, though still expect the industry as a whole to clear the £100 million barrier.

"With betting shops still closed, industry-wide turnover on this year's Grand National is likely to be down to around £100 million – some £50 million shy of where it would normally be – but that will still make it comfortably the biggest betting event of the year, and twelve months on from 2020's virtual running of the race, it's just great to have the National back again," said the firm's David Stevens.

The going on the Grand National course on Monday was good to soft, good in places, following 6mm of water being put down overnight.

The chase and hurdle tracks on the Mildmay course were both good, good to soft in places ahead of daytime watering, while clerk of the course Sulekha Varma has not ruled out further irrigation.

"We'll reassess to see what that's done and have another look at the forecast before deciding what we do over the next two days," said Varma. "I wouldn't be surprised if we need to water again before Thursday."

Rest of Saturday's card

The post-Richard Johnson era at Philip Hobbs' Minehead yard is well and truly underway with Tom O'Brien's name appearing next to that of Thyme Hill in what looks a potentially very fine renewal of the Ryanair Stayers' Hurdle.

Friends reunited: (L-R) Thyme Hill, Roksana and Paisley Park are all entered in Saturday's Ryanair Stayers' Hurdle at Aintree on SaturdayCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

While Cheltenham hero Flooring Porter remains in Ireland, the second, third and fourth from the festival – Sire Du Berlais, Paisley Park and Beacon Edge – could all be engaged.

Shiskin has been installed at 1-4 for the Doom Bar Maghull Novices' Chase which has attracted nine entries, with second favourite Allmankind reportedly waiting a week for Ayr.

The day's first Grade 1 is the Betway Mersey Novices' Hurdle over two and a half miles, a fourth potential option across the meeting for The Shunter, who picked up a £100,000 bonus when winning over fences at Cheltenham last month.

Read more on the Randox Grand National:

Grand National course watered and further irrigation could be needed

McConnell living the Grand National dream with Mullins cast-off Some Neck

2021 Grand National: essential information for jump racing's biggest event

[Members Club] From death's door to National glory: Bob Champion and racing's greatest miracle

[Members Club] 'I'll always be considered as Niall Madden, the Grand National-winning jockey'

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