No surprise withdrawals from big race

All the leading contenders for this Saturday's Martell Grand National stood their ground at today's 48-hour declaration stage.

The maximum field of 40 horses looks assured for the £500,000 event, with last year's Whitbread Gold Cup winner Beau carrying top-weight of 11st 10lb. The most fancied absentee is Red Ark, a 25-1 shot who instead tackles tomorrow's John Hughes Trophy Chase over a short course of the National fences.

Outsider Senor El Betrutti, a first-fence faller in last year's marathon chase, does not run due to unsuitably soft ground.

Four horses - defending champion Papillon, Hollybank Buck, Inis Cara and Merry People - have made the one-way journey across the Irish Sea to Liverpool. The Irish government gave its native trainers permission just three days ago to travel, but on the understanding that they would not return until Britain's foot-and-mouth epidemic has abated.

But Inis Cara has left County Limerick handler Michael Hourigan's yard for good following a disagreement over jockey bookings and has joined Venetia Williams' stable.

Irish-trained Feathered Leader and Rathbawn Prince have not made the journey.