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Minella Times confirmed as Grand National top weight with Poker Party confirmed in field

Minella Times will be joined stablemate Poker Party
Minella Times will be joined stablemate Poker Party

Last year's winner Minella Times has been left at the top of the weights in Saturday's Randox Grand National following the defection of his stablemate Chris's Dream.

Minella Times claimed a historic victory 12 months ago as Rachael Blackmore became the first female rider to win the world's most famous steeplechase.

But Henry de Bromhead's nine-year-old will have to carry 11st 10lb this time around as he bids to follow in the hoofprints of Tiger Roll by successfully defending his crown.

The only other horse previously in the top 40 that has been taken out is the Mick Winters-trained Chatham Street Lad. He could instead tackle the famous fences in Friday's Topham Chase.

The beneficiaries of the two defections are another De Bromhead runner in Poker Party and Dan Skelton's Blaklion, who are now guaranteed a place in the field.

The top three in the market are Gordon Elliott's Delta Work (11st 9lb), the Ted Walsh-trained Any Second Now (11st 8lb) and Snow Leopardess (10st 9lb) from Charlie Longsdon's yard.

Elliott's strong squad also includes Escaria Ten (11st 1lb) and Farclas (11st 1lb), while Ciaran Murphy's Enjoy d'Allen (10st 11lb) is another leading contender from Ireland.

Elliott's Death Duty and Sean Curran's Domaine De L'Isle currently occupy the 41st and 42nd spots respectively.

Emma Lavelle's Eclair Surf, second to easy Scottish National winner Win My Wings in the Eider Chase last time out, is currently 43rd on the list.

Danny Mullins led Flooring Porter up the Cheltenham hill on St Patrick's Day

Dual Stayers' Hurdle hero Flooring Porter is among 10 entries for the JRL Group Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree on Saturday.

Gavin Cromwell's charge produced another dominant front-running performance to successfully defend his crown at last month's Cheltenham Festival under an inspired ride from Danny Mullins.

Last season the seven-year-old rounded off his season at Punchestown, but Cromwell recently raised the possibility of him instead lining up on Merseyside before a potential trip to France later in the year.

His likely rivals on Grand National day include Stayers' Hurdle runner-up Thyme Hill, who won last year's Liverpool Hurdle for Philip Hobbs.

Nicky Henderson looks set to saddle Champ, who won the Sefton Novices' Hurdle over this course and distance last season in 2019 and was only four lengths behind Flooring Porter when fourth just over three weeks ago.

Thomas Darby and Molly Ollys Wishes are also in the mix for the extended three-mile contest.

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