Martin's Anibale top-weighted Irish entry for Aintree

The Tony Martin-trained Anibale Fly (11st 6lb) has the biggest weight of any Irish-trained challenger for the 172nd Aintree Grand national after the weights were revealed today.

The JP McManus-owned horse finished fourth last year on the back of a career-best third in the Cheltenham Gold Cup last March.

Gordon Elliott's Tiger Roll has been allocated 11st 1lb as he bids to become the first dual winner since the legendary Red Rum while Bristol De Mai heads the weights on 11st 10lb.

Tiger Roll is the 20/1 joint-favourite with Betway, official betting partner of the Randox Health Grand National Festival, alongside Welsh Grand National winner seven-year-old Elegant Escape (Colin Tizzard, 11st 4lb) - Earth Summit was the last horse to win the Welsh Grand National and Randox Health Grand National in the same season (1997/98).

Elliott was successful at Aintree with Silver Birch in 2007 and this year accounts for 22 of the 47 Irish-trained entries. 

Elliott's team also features Cheltenham Festival winner The Storyteller (11st 3lb) and General Principle (10st), winner of the 2018 Irish Grand National.

Elliott's big Irish rival Willie Mullins, responsible for 2005 Grand National scorer Hedgehunter, has 10 entries headed by last year's runner-up Pleasant Company (10st 11lb), G2 National Hunt Chase winner Rathvinden (10st 10lb) and Up For Review (10st 2lb)..

No mare has won the Randox Health Grand National since Nickel Coin in 1951.

There are four contenders this time around - Elliott's Shattered Love (10st 10lb), Ms Parfois (Anthony Honeyball, 10st 2lb), Magic Of Light (Jessica Harrington, 10st 7lb) and Baie Des Iles (Ross O'Sullivan, 9st 12lb).

“It was fairly straightforward to do the weights. I tried to treat it like any other race whilst bearing in mind there has to be some digression when needed,” stated British Horseracing Authority Handicapper Martin Greenwood,

“Tiger Roll is up nine pounds from his mark for last year's Grand National and Pleasant Company is up seven.

“I have them both on the same mark for what they were rated after last year's Grand National. 

“Tiger Roll confirmed that rating in the Cross Country Handicap at Cheltenham in November. 

“Pleasant Company has been a bit disappointing in a few runs since, but I think the Aintree fences will bring out the best in him, that’s why I left him on that mark,” he added.

With a prize fund of £1 million, the four miles, two furlongs and 74 yards reace has 30 fences. It will take place at 5.15pm on Saturday 6th April.