106 Go Forward For 2007 John Smith's Grand National

A total of 106 horses remain engaged after the first forfeit stage for the 2007 John Smith's Grand National, details of which are revealed today.

Exotic Dancer and 2005 John Smith's Grand National hero Hedgehunter continue to head the weights on 11st 12lb for the #700,000 contest, run at 4.15pm on Saturday, April 14, at Aintree.

Hedgehunter is one of 28 Irish-trained horses still in the world's most famous chase, with entries from Ireland also including the 2006 victor Numbersixvalverde, Far From Trouble, trained by Christy Roche, the 2006 Galway Plate victor and a leading fancy in the ante-post market, the Tony Martin-trained Dun Doire and Silver Birch.

Irish handler Gordon Elliott, who trains at Capranny, County Meath, reveals that Silver Birch is in 'top shape' ahead of the Aintree showpiece.

The winner of Aintree's totesport.com Becher Chase and the Welsh National in 2004 when in the care of Paul Nicholls, Silver Birch is set to carry 10st 6lb in this year's renewal and was still in touch in the 2006 John Smith's Grand National until falling at the Chair, after being hampered.

Subsequently sold for 20,000 guineas at Doncaster's May Sale, the 10-year-old has shown useful form on his last two outings, following a fine second of 23 over the cross country course at Punchestown on February 4 with a solid fourth at the same track over hurdles later that month, keeping on well over the two and a half mile trip.

Elliott said today: 'Silver Birch is bang on course for the John Smith's Grand National, and he goes to Cheltenham for the cross country race next Tuesday first.

'I thought he ran a blinder last time out over hurdles and he was staying on all the way to the line. He also ran really well the time before at Punchestown when he found one too good, but I definitely think that he is better now than he was then.

'He seems to have come out of his last race in grand form and looks to be in top shape.'

Despite failing to complete behind Numbersixvalverde in last year's John Smith's Grand National, Elliott is confident that his charge will get round this year, and is hoping for a bold run come the big day.

He continued: 'Silver Birch is a nice moving horse and I think he would handle decent ground fine, although all his wins have come on testing going. He's been out hunting a lot and seems to be very happy in himself.

'His jumping is great - he's a classy fencer - he stays well, he has a nice weight and with a bit of luck he could go very well. I think the trip will be no problem and if we can keep him sweet, we could easily reach the frame.'

The Venetia Williams-trained Nil Desperandum, sixth behind Hedgehunter in 2005 and fourth to Numbersixvalverde last year when trained in Ireland by Frances Crowley, shot to the head of the ante-post market with a smooth 12-length success in the totesport Eider Chase at Newcastle on February 24. If successful, Williams would become the second female trainer to land the John Smith's Grand National following on from Jenny Pitman, triumphant with Corbiere (1983) and Royal Athlete (1995).

Kim Bailey saddled Mr Frisk to victory in the 1990 Grand National and the Gloucestershire trainer believes he has another live contender in the 10-year-old Longshanks.

The lightly-raced gelding, who has finished second and fourth in two previous outings over the big Aintree fences in the John Smith's Topham Trophy (2004 & 2005), has twice missed the cut for the four and a half mile showpiece but having been allotted 10st 7lb, and with 46 horses above him in the list, Bailey is hopeful that Longshanks will make the final 40 at the third time of asking.

The trainer reported today: 'I hope he can get in this year. It's been our plan for three years to run in the John Smith's Grand National, so I'm very much looking forward to the race.

'I'm very confident that he can go there and run a big race. He stays and it's a case of whether he gets there in one piece and keeps out of trouble. Plenty of horses have fallen at the first!

'It's been the owner's (Alan Halsall) ambition for a long time to have a runner in the John Smith's Grand National with him and it's been on the schedule for a long time, so we just need to get there now.

'He's fine at the moment. We were due to go to Huntingdon on Sunday for a racecourse gallop and that was abandoned, unfortunately. We're in that situation where we're five and a half weeks away so we're on schedule.'

Bailey has carefully plotted Longshanks' route to Aintree this year, giving him just one outing this term in an extended two and three quarter-mile handicap at Newbury on November 26, which he won by 11 lengths from Schuh Shine, under Jason Maguire.

The handler revealed: 'It was very much the situation that we wanted to run that day and the most important thing we wanted to do was to get high enough in the ratings to guarantee a run in the John Smith's Grand National. Having won, we couldn't run him again in case the ground was not right or something and he finished fourth or fifth in a race and dropped two pounds, which would have been enough for him not to get in the race.

'I wouldn't want ground on the fast side - he wouldn't want it bottomless either. The ground at Newbury when he won was sloppy which was the reason why he got through it, but he would go on most types of going.'

As for riding arrangements, Bailey revealed: 'I'm very much hoping Jason Maguire will ride him but it's a long way between now and then and I know he's been touted around for Idle Talk as well.'

Champion trainer Paul Nicholls has eight entries to choose from including this season's totesport Becher Chase victor Eurotrek and the 2005 John Smith's Grand National runner-up Royal Auclair while David Pipe, who will be bidding to emulate his father Martin's success with Miinnehoma 13 years ago, has half a dozen hopefuls going forward including Little Brick, who put himself firmly in the picture for Aintree when taking the County Gentlemen's Association Chase at Wincanton on February 17 when making his British debut.

McCain is a name synonymous with the Grand National and Donald McCain Jnr, in his first full season as a trainer, has had his hand strengthened with the recent acquisition of Idle Talk. Now owned by Hedgehunter's owner, Trevor Hemmings, the 2006 Royal & SunAlliance Chase runner-up has joined the McCain stable having previously been trained by Tom George. McCain also has Inca Trail and Maurice engaged.

The going at Aintree is currently good, good to soft in places and the next forfeit stage for the John Smith's Grand National is on Tuesday, March 27.

The latest prices from the Grand National meeting's official betting partner, Betfair, www.betfair.com

To win the John Smith´s Grand National - Betfair bet: 12-1 Nil Desperandum, 14-1 Dun Doire, 16-1 Numbersixvalverde, 18-1 Little Brick, Hedgehunter, 19-1 Far from Trouble, 20-1 Point Barrow, Eurotrek, 27-1 Bothar Na, Liberthine, 28-1 Simon, 29-1 Idle Talk, 31-1 Longshanks, 37-1 Ladalko