The reigning Grand National champion I Am Maximus is a general 10-1 favourite to emulate Tiger Roll and become a back-to-back Aintree hero in April.
Willie Mullins’s star, who could line up this Saturday in the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown, tops a list of 90 initial entries for the world’s most famous steeplechase released on Tuesday.
Irish-trained horses make up just over half of the 90, although that is a percentage drop from last year when 61 of the 94 entries at the same stage were based in this country.
All-important weights for the National will be unveiled next month, although I Am Maximus was quickly made favourite to pull off a famous double.
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Tiger Roll won back-to-back in 2018-19, the first horse to manage such a feat since Red Rum in 1973-74. ‘Rummy’ famously went on to become the only three-time National winner in 1977.
I Am Maximus is one of 10 horses entered for the National by Mullins, who also won the race with Hedgehunter 20 years ago.
Tiger Roll’s trainer Gordon Elliott has given himself 16 options including last year’s runner-up Delta Work and Gerri Colombe, who found only Galopin Des Champs too good in last season’s Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Having also landed the National in 2007 with Silver Birch, another Aintree success would see Elliott join Fred Rimell, George Dockeray and Red Rum’s trainer Ginger McCain on a record four wins.
Monty’s Star and former Gold Cup hero Minella Indo − third in the National last year − are among Henry de Bromhead’s four hopefuls, while last season’s Irish National victor Intense Raffles is on target to run for Co Meath trainer Tom Gibney.
[ Galopin Des Champs tops big Willie Mullins’ team for Dublin Racing FestivalOpens in new window ]
Hewick is another Irish entry, although the more immediate focus for him is whether ground conditions allow him line up for Saturday’s Irish Gold Cup.
Now in the care of Tara Lee Cogan due to Shark Hanlon’s licence suspension, connections are hoping for a dry week at Leopardstown.
“He came out of his last run grand and he’s in great form, it was just the ground was too holding for him that day and that isn’t what he likes. I suppose we’re in the same position going into this weekend, we won’t run him if he doesn’t get his ground.
“This morning, I think it’s soft, hopefully we’ll get a couple of dry days, but we’ll just have to wait and see,” the trainer said.
There is all-weather flat action at Dundalk on Wednesday afternoon and the French recruit Acheron looks an interesting prospect on his Irish debut.
After three runs in France, including a third at Saint-Cloud last September when missing the break, Acheron has been given a mark of 71. Apprentice jockey Robert Whearty also takes off a valuable 3lbs.
Red Evolution mixed it in some good company as a two-year-old and goes in the opening maiden while the course and distance winner Volatile Analyst could be up to defying a 10lb penalty in a handicap.
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