SATURDAY'S Martell Grand National is set for its smallest field in at least 16 years after yesterday's acceptance stage. Only 32 horses were declared for the £250,000 race, guaranteeing the smallest line up at Aintree since 1980 when just 30 runners went to post.
And with the participation of such as Life Of A Lord, Lusty Light and Tartan Tyrant hinging on ground conditions at Aintree the field could rival 1970 when 28 lined up the smallest field since 1960.
Most notable among the 16 horses taken out of the National yesterday was the 1994 winner Miinnehoma, pulled up in the race last year and in each of his three starts to date this term.
The withdrawal of Jodami, Dublin Flyer, Royal Athlete and the late Monsieur Le Cure at the top of the field means a significant rise in the weights. Young Hustler is left to head the handicap on 11st 7lb, one of only nine horses set to race off their correct mark.
Tom Tate, trainer of second favourite Lo Stregone, welcomed the news that his horse, to be ridden by Jamie Osborne, will face a relatively small field on Saturday. The less horses there are the less schmozzle there should be," he said. "Lo Stregone is in good order and he worked well on Saturday."
Deep Bramble pleased his trainer Paul Nicholls in a schooling session yesterday morning. He said afterwards
"You can never be confident about a race like the National. But I am confident I have got him as well as I can get him."
Last year's winning jockey Jason Titley has picked up the ride on Bavard Dieu on Saturday after Warren Marston turned the mount down because Jenny Pitman might still run Lusty Light.
Paul Carberry is on standby to partner Three Brownies. He has been booked for Tart an Tyrant whose trainer Gordon Richards says soft ground is essential for the nine year old.
Too good to Be True's participation in the Grand National will be determined later in the week.
Ladbrokes yesterday reported "a good spread" of bets on the National field, with the best backed being Son Of War (cut to 9-1 from 12-1), Superior Finish, (8-1 from 10-1) and Life Of A Lord (10-1 from 14-1).
Latest betting Ladbrokes 4-1 Rough Quest, 6-1 Lo Stregone, 8-1 Young Hustler, Superior Finish (10-1), 9-1 Son Of War(12-1), 10-1 Deep Bramble (8-1), Life Of A Lord (14-1), 12-1 Party Politics (11-1), 14-1 Wylde Hide (12-1). 16-1 Dextra Dove, Lusty Light, 25-1 Encore Un Peu, 28-1 Rust Never Sleeps. 33-1 bar.
