57 left in Grand National

There were 57 horses confirmed for Saturday's Martell Grand National at today's latest entry stage.

Six Irish-trained entries, including defending champion Papillon, feature among the potential runners after their Government agreed to a last-minute transport reprieve.

Beau, trained by Nigel-Twiston Davies, now tops the handicap with 11st 10lb after Marlborough was today withdrawn from the £500,000 event.

This means the weights are set to rise by 9lb, leaving Papillon on 11st 5lb and bringing the favourite, Mely Moss, into the handicap proper on 10st 5lb.

Papillon aims to become the first horse since Red Rum to win successive Nationals.

A maximum of 40 horses can line up in the 4m 4f chase this Saturday, so the 17 lowest-weighted horses among today's confirmations will not get a run.

Just 16 horses were withdrawn, including useful novice Take Control who heads instead for Ayr's Scottish Grand National on 21 April.

His trainer Martin Pipe, who won the event in 1994 with the Freddie Starr-owned Miinnehoma, still has 10 entries remaining in the Aintree event.