Irish seeking to make it 6 out of 7 in the Grand National Irish-trained horses have won five of the last six runnings of the Randox Grand National and again have strong claims with 18 of the 34 runners including last year’s winner I Am Maximus who looks set to go off favourite. I Am Maximus heads a team of six for Willie Mullins in the million pounds 4m2f spectacular, while Gordon Elliott bids to win the world-famous stamina test for a fourth time and saddles five runners. Gold Cup winning trainer Gavin Cromwell has three strong contenders including Cheltenham Festival winner Stumptown, while Shark Hanlon’s Hewick also has plenty of supporters following a recent win over hurdles at Thurles. There are three Grade 1 races on the card at Aintree and champion trainer Mullins will be hoping to add to his six winners in the opening two days of the meeting. The Closutton maestro runs both Kappa Jy Pyke and Funiculi Funicula in the Turners Mersey Novices’ Hurdle, while Kitzbuhel steps up considerably in trip to tackle the three-mile Ivy Liverpool Hurdle. Teahupoo and Home By The Lee are other leading Irish runners in the ‘Liverpool Hurdle’, while Cromwell’s Only By Night will bid to avenge a narrow reverse at Cheltenham in the other Grade 1 on the day — the Rosconn Group Maghull Novices’ Chase.
