Past winners eye National glory again
Wednesday, 3 February 2010 17:44Each of the last three winners of the John Smith's Grand National have been entered for the 2010 renewal on 10 April.
A total of 111 entries were received, the lowest number since 2000, but they include last year's hero Mon Mome and runner-up Comply Or Die, who won in 2008, as well as 2007 scorer Silver Birch.
Comply Or Die is one of nine entries for trainer David Pipe along with the likes of Madison Du Berlais and Seven Is My Number, while Silver Birch's Irish handler Gordon Elliott is also planning to run Backstage.
My Will was third in 2009 for trainer Paul Nicholls and could again take his chance, meaning that, with State Of Play, Cerium and Big Fella Thanks also engaged, the first six home from that renewal have all been entered once again.
Nicholls has also engaged Saturday's Cheltenham winner Taranis and Tricky Trickster, the ante-post 16-1 favourite with totesport.
With two victories in the race Nigel Twiston-Davies is the most successful current trainer and among his seven are Irish Raptor, Ollie Magern, Beat The Boys and Hello Bud.
The 38-strong Irish-trained entry includes Vic Venturi, Black Apalachi, Notre Pere, War Of Attrition and 10 from the Willie Mullins stable.
Plenty of other top British horses could turn up in Merseyside like Albertas Run, Star De Mohaison, Trabolgan, Air Force One and Joe Lively.
