73 left in Grand National

A total of 73 horses remain in the John Smith's Grand National following the first scratchings' deadline.

Willie Mullins has clarified his running plans for the £975,000 Aintree showpiece, with On His Own heading his four remaining entries.

The lightly-raced nine-year-old was travelling strongly when coming down at Becher's Brook on the second circuit last year but returned to action this term with a comfortable success in the Grade Two Boyne Hurdle at Navan to see his National odds slashed.

Gordon Elliott captured the race in 2007 with Silver Birch and has six contenders going forward headlined by Chicago Grey and Roi Du Mee.

Chicago Grey completed his preparation for Aintree with a smooth success in the Grade Two Red Mills Chase at Navan, while Roi Du Mee lowered the colours of leading fancy Prince De Beauchene in the Grade Two Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse.

Seabass, who ran an excellent race to finish third in last season's National, came home third under Katie Walsh with another Aintree aspirant Rare Bob shaping nicely in fourth for trainer Dessie Hughes.

David Bridgwater's Wyck Hill, recently purchased by leading owner JP McManus, failed to enhance his credentials in the Grade Three Racing Plus Chase at Kempton Park but Quinz, trained by Philip Hobbs, and Nicky Henderson's Roberto Goldback ran eye-catching races to finish fourth and fifth respectively.

More John Smith's Grand National clues could be uncovered this weekend with the six-day entries for the Grimthorpe Handicap Chase at Doncaster and Listed Premier Chase at Kelso featuring a number of Aintree contenders.

Champion trainer Paul Nicholls is hoping to send Betfred Becher Handicap Chase runner-up Join Together and Sir Alex Ferguson's Harry The Viking to Doncaster, where they could clash with The Package, Calgary Bayand Mr Moonshine, who all hold John Smith's Grand National entries.

Donald McCain enjoyed a memorable victory in the 2011 National will Ballabriggs, and the 12-year-old is among the Cheshire handler's four remaining entries for this year's renewal.

McCain is also responsible for the enigmatic but highly talented Weird Al and progressive nine-year-old Across The Bay, who captured a Grade Two hurdle over three miles at Haydock last time, while Cloudy Lane is more likely to miss the race to run in the John Smith's Fox Hunters' on the first day of the meeting.