The latest stage of scratchings for the prestigious Grand National at Aintree has seen the removal of ten horses, bringing the field size to 34 contenders. Horse racing enthusiasts are eagerly anticipating the upcoming £1 million National event, set to take place in less than a month, featuring top staying chasers tackling 30 fences over a challenging four-mile, two-and-a-half furlong course.

Since 2024, the field size for the National has been capped at 34 horses, down from 40, providing a glimpse into the potential lineup for the race scheduled for April 11. Recent scratchings have seen a total of ten horses withdrawn, with notable names like Gold Cup competitor Grey Dawning, Bet365 Gold Cup winner Resplendent Grey, and Gentlemansgame being taken out.

Joining the list of withdrawals are horses trained by Gordon Elliott, Ben Pauling, and Anthony Honeyball, resulting in a final field of 34 contenders. Among the leading entries are the Willie Mullins-trained duo of 2024 winner I Am Maximus and Grangeclare West, the third-place finisher from the previous year.

As the event approaches, there is a possibility of further changes to the lineup, with some horses potentially opting to compete in the Irish National on April 6 instead. British hopes are high for contenders like Haiti Couleurs, the Welsh and Irish National winner, who is expected to represent strong competition at Aintree following a recent appearance at the Gold Cup in Cheltenham.

Trainer Rebecca Curtis expressed her excitement about the upcoming challenge, emphasizing Haiti Couleurs’ strength in National-type races and confirming plans for the horse’s participation, provided he remains fit and well in the coming weeks. Curtis highlighted the similarities to the previous year’s schedule, where the horse successfully transitioned from Cheltenham to the Irish National, indicating a positive outlook for the upcoming Grand National event.