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All the leading contenders remain in the 2008 John Smith’s Grand National following today’s second forfeit stage for the famous race, which will be worth £800,000 this year when taking place on Saturday, April 5.

With just 10 horses taken out today, a record 115 entries are still in the race, of which 93 are in the handicap. This compares with 81 remaining (and 58 in the handicap) at this stage 12 months ago and a maximum field of 40 runners looks assured with the cut-off weight at 10st 10lb at present.

The current 6/1 favourite with Aintree’s official betting partner, Totesport, is Cloudy Lane, the winner of his last three starts for trainer Donald McCain - whose father Ginger won the John Smith’s Grand National four times, most famously with Red Rum (1973, 1974 and 1977).

Celestial Gold - who had been top weight - was one of the 10 horses taken out today, meaning that the weights will rise by 1lb and are now headed on 11st 12lb by the 2005 winner Hedgehunter and Hi Cloy.

That pair are among 30 remaining Irish-trained contenders that could bid to continue an oustanding record for raiders from Ireland, who have won four of the last five runnings of the John Smith’s Grand National. Other leading Irish-trained entries include the Willie Mullins-trained Snowy Morning, the Tote’s 10/1 second favourite, Chelsea Harbour, representing Mullins’ brother Tom, last year’s third Slim Pickings, as well as Dun Doire and Point Barrow, who respectively finished second and third in a chase at Down Royal yesterday.

Champion trainer Paul Nicholls - who saddled a 1-2-3 in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup last week - has six possibles to give him a first success in the John Smith’s Grand National, headed by totesport Becher Chase hero Mr Pointment

Howard Johnson and owner Graham Wylie, who enjoyed a high-profile double at Cheltenham with Inglis Drever and Tidal Bay, look set to be represented by Bewleys Berry in the John Smith’s Grand National.

Last year’s runner-up McKelvey and fourth Philson Run also represent the 2007 form while other notable entries include the Jonjo O’Neill-trained Butler’s Cabin and Simon, who finished fourth in the Racing Post Chase at Kempton last month.

Julian Thick, Managing Director at Aintree Racecourse, commented: "The popularity of the John Smith’s Grand National is demonstrated by the fact that an unprecedented 115 horses remain in the race after today’s forfeit stage and we are counting down the days until what promises to be great race on Saturday, April 5."

The next confirmation stage for the John Smith’s Grand National is at the five-day stage on Monday, March 31.

The John Smith’s Grand National, worth a record £800,000, takes place at Aintree on Saturday, April 5. Aintree is situated in Liverpool, European Capital of Culture for 2008.

Latest betting from the Tote: 6/1 Cloudy Lane, 10 Snowy Morning, 12 Slim Pickings 14 Bewleys Berry, Butler’s Cabin, Comply Or Die, 16 Point Barrow, Simon, Mr Pointment, 20 Hedgehunter, McKelvey, Turko, 25 LAmi, Chelsea Harbour, Knowhere, Patsy Hall, 28 Ungaro, 33/1 bar

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